Reckless Beta: An Age Gap Wolf Shifter Romance (Shadowed Heirs Book Three), page 1
Copyright © 2024 by C.J. Primer
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Any similarities between characters, settings, and situations in this book and real people, places, or events is purely coincidental.
Cover Design by C.J. Primer
Proofreading by Sophie Dyer and Darma Day
ISBN: 9798323832552
Created with Vellum
CONTENTS
Playlist
Content Warning
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Afterword
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Connect Online
Also by CJ Primer
Also by CJ Primer
Also by CJ Primer
PLAYLIST
Closer - The Chainsmokers, Halsey
Cruel Summer - Taylor Swift
Bad Things - I Prevail
Nothing New - Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers
Pink Friday Girls - Nicki Minaj
Beautiful Things - Benson Boone
Exes - Tate McRae
Is It Over Now? - Taylor Swift
Lose Control - Teddy Swims
Better Than Me - Hinder
Greedy - Tate McRae
Training Season - Dua Lipa
Paint The Town Red - Doja Cat
End of Beginning - Djo
Call Me Maybe - Carly Rae Jepsen
Find the complete playlist on Spotify.
CONTENT WARNING
This book contains darker themes that may be triggering to some readers. Triggers include, but are not limited to: graphic sexual scenes/situations, strong language, depression/anxiety, loss of a parent (in the past), gun violence, injury caused by firearms, and mentions of death. Please know your triggers and proceed with caution.
To all the strong, kickass women out there who don’t take any shit, but don’t mind being thrown around a little in the bedroom…
Nash is waiting for you.
PROLOGUE
When our parents were young, our world looked a lot different than it does now. Their shifter packs kept to their own territories, but at least they were able to live freely amongst the human world.
Not anymore.
Somehow, the secret of our kind's existence got out, and now we're being hunted.
My friends and I are the sons and daughters of the six-pack alphas. We head up the security squad, and it's our job to keep the alliance's territory safe. In order to do that, we have to take precautions: stay hidden, or risk being discovered and wiped out.
We're heirs to an empire, living in the shadows…
1
FOUR YEARS AGO
“Let’s settle this right now, get up on this bar with me and we’ll have a dance off!” Andie declares, smacking the wooden surface of the bar top with an open palm.
Her friend Avery looks like she’s about two seconds away from taking her up on the challenge, but before she can, the girls are interrupted by Avery’s twin brother stepping over to intervene.
“Nope, no dancing on the bar tonight, ladies,” Madd grumbles, restraining his sister before she climbs up there to put on a show for the entire crowd at the Stillwater Tap. “And that’s our cue to go home.”
Both girls whine in protest, but Madd isn’t having any of it. He pins Avery with a hard look until she begrudgingly relents and agrees to leave with him.
I chuckle to myself as I watch their exchange from a nearby table, casually sipping my beer. Avery teeters on her heels as she gives Andie a big hug goodbye, then allows her twin to steer her toward the exit.
Madd tosses me a wave on his way out and I throw up a hand to return it, nearly knocking over my beer in the process. The girls aren’t the only ones who have been overserved tonight. I’ve been slinging back drinks for hours with my buddy Archer, the two of us keeping an eye on his feisty little sister.
“And then there were three,” I chuckle under my breath, shooting Archer a sideways glance.
He’s not listening, though. He’s got his tongue down some blonde’s throat as she straddles his lap, shamelessly dry humping him like a rodeo queen.
Well damn, make that four.
“Arch,” I call, leaning across the high-top table to nudge a fist against his shoulder.
He finally comes up for air, turning to me with a dazed, half-lidded stare. “What’s up?”
I nod toward Andie, who’s now chatting up the bartender. “Should we get your sister home? Everyone else left.”
Archer’s head swivels back and forth as he swings his gaze between me and the blonde bombshell he was just devouring, clearly torn with indecision. “Uh, do you think you can take her home? I was gonna show Krystal here my dorm at the squad complex.” He tips his head to indicate the girl in his lap, giving me a pointed look.
He wants to get laid, not babysit his drunk little sister.
“Yeah, man, go ahead,” I sigh, waving a hand dismissively as I cast my gaze toward Andie again. “I’ve got her.”
My heart lurches in my chest as my eyes lock on her round ass in her tight red dress. She’s leaning forward over the bar top, talking animatedly to the bartender as he mixes up a shot in a cocktail shaker.
That ass, though. When did it get so fucking tempting? The way she’s bending over and sticking it out makes me want to grab it, slap it, sink my teeth into it…
“Thanks, bro,” Archer replies, and I jerk my gaze away from his sister, mentally cursing myself for thinking what I just did about her.
“Yeah, no problem,” I breathe.
I stick a fist out toward him, Archer knocking his knuckles against mine before he and his flavor of the week get to their feet to leave. I watch as he slings an arm over her shoulders and guides her to the exit, grinning like a dude who’s about to get laid.
Because he is.
Lucky fucker.
I reach down to subtly adjust myself in my jeans as I turn my gaze back to Andie at the bar, pushing up from my own seat. It’s been far too long since I’ve gotten laid, but I didn’t come out to the Stillwater Tap tonight to pick up some random tail. I’m here because it’s Andie Raines’ eighteenth birthday, and when she cornered me earlier and looked up at me with those big brown eyes, asking me to come celebrate with her, I couldn’t say no.
And now I’m the sucker left to look after her.
“A few more of these, and I’ll get up here and dance all by myself!” Andie tells the bartender as he hands her a shot, slapping the palm of her other hand against the bar again.
“Guess I’ll keep ‘em comin’, then,” he replies, tossing her a wink as he turns away to help another customer.
“Alright, birthday girl, I think you’ve had enough,” I chuckle, coming up behind Andie and plucking the shot glass from her fingers before she can raise it to her lips.
“Wha…?” she protests, reaching out for the glass as she spins toward me, her red hair floating around her shoulders. Something mischievous sparks in her eyes as soon as they meet mine and she presses closer, prompting me to lift the glass up out of her reach. “Gimme that!” Andie giggles, wrapping her hands around my thick bicep and trying to tug my arm down.
“I don’t think so,” I muse, holding strong as she starts attempting to climb me like a tree to retrieve the lemon drop shot from my grasp.
“C’mon, that’s mine!” she whines, rubbing up against me a little too much and sending all my blood rushing south.
Damnit.
This keeps happening with Andie. A couple weeks ago, we were play-wrestling in the living room and I popped a boner. Shortly before that, I came over for movie night and she was wearing this tiny pair of cotton shorts that I couldn’t stop staring at her ass in. I’ve been avoiding the packhouse more and more lately because every time I see Andie Raines, I have these thoughts about her that I shouldn’t.
It’s wrong on so many levels. I practically grew up at the Stillwater packhouse- after my m
I keep trying to remind myself of that, but my dick isn’t getting the memo.
“Give it to me, Nash!”
Andie’s panted plea sounds a little too sexual for comfort. I jerk away from her, bringing the shot glass to my own lips and throwing it back, effectively ending this game.
She folds her arms over her chest indignantly as she watches me swallow down the liquor. “Well now you’ll just have to buy me another one,” she huffs, blowing a stray strand of hair out of her eyes.
I shake my head, reaching past her to deposit the empty glass on the bar top. “No.”
“Yes!”
I arch a brow as I turn to face her again. “How many have you had tonight?”
She rolls her eyes. “It’s my birthday.”
“Answer the question, AJ.”
She locks gazes with me, fierce determination shining in her own. “I lost count, but I’m fine. I’m celebrating!” She throws her arms up, spinning around in a cute little dance move to demonstrate her dexterity. Then she stabs a finger into my chest, narrowing her eyes as she stares up at me. “Don’t you dare kill my vibe, Liam Nash. Either drink with me or leave me to it.”
Well, I’m not about to leave her to it, that’s for damn sure. Not with the way every guy in this place is currently drooling over the princess of the Stillwater Pack. I want to rip all their eyes out of their fucking skulls, starting with the one the damn bartender used to wink at her.
I throw up a hand to flag down the female bartender instead of the prick who was flirting with Andie.
“Two lemon drops,” I grumble as soon as she’s within earshot, and she nods in affirmation, turning away to pour them.
“I knew you couldn’t resist,” Andie teases, nudging an elbow into my side as she looks up at me, batting her lashes.
Little girl, you have no fucking idea.
I grab one of the shot glasses as soon as it lands on the bar, bringing it to my mouth and tossing it back. I’m gonna need it if she keeps looking at me like that.
The girl is a flirt by nature. She can make anyone feel like a million bucks with a single smile, and when her attention is on you, it makes you feel like you’re the only person in the room. Everyone in the pack adores her; Andie’s just special.
And way too fucking young for me.
I’m twenty-six, I shouldn’t even be thinking about an eighteen-year-old girl like that. It’s fucking creepy.
But when I turn to look at Andie again, I’m struck by how much she doesn’t look like a kid anymore. She’s all soft curves and feminine temptation, with high cheekbones, pouty lips, and big brown doe-eyes. She’s fucking gorgeous.
She winks at me as she takes her own shot and I immediately regret agreeing to this. I’ve had just enough to drink tonight to make questionable decisions, and the last person I should be alone with in this state is Andie Raines. Especially when she’s all buzzed and affectionate.
“Whaddya say, Nasty Nash?” Andie purrs, stroking a hand along my arm as she tilts her head in question. “You wanna get up on the bar and dance with me?”
Her use of the childhood nickname she gave me reminds me that this is the girl I grew up with, but the way she’s touching me is sending opposite signals to my brain. Just standing this close to her has my cock thickening beneath my zipper, her scent wrapping around me like a drug.
Fuck, has she always smelled this good?
“I’ll dance with ya, honey,” some asshole on the other side of Andie slurs as he approaches. I crane my neck to see past her, rolling my eyes when they land on Damon Jones: pack enforcer, notorious womanizer, and certified dickhead.
As a ranked member of the pack, he should know better than to hit on the alpha’s daughter, but Damon isn’t the type to give a fuck about respect. He probably wants to nail her just so he can brag about it to his buddies. She’d be just another trophy for his collection.
“Hey, Damon,” Andie smiles, tucking her flame red hair behind an ear as she turns her attention on him.
The way she-wolves fawn over this douchebag makes me sick.
A lazy grin slides across Damon’s face as he gives Andie a predatory once-over, licking his lips as his gaze returns to hers. “Damn, Princess. All grown up now, huh?”
“Back off, Damon,” I warn, moving in beside Andie and nudging a shoulder in front of her protectively.
His grin immediately dissolves into a scowl as his eyes ping up to meet mine. “Why don’t you back off, Nash? We’re just having a conversation here.”
“Not anymore,” I growl, narrowing my eyes on him threateningly as my inner wolf pushes forward.
“Ohhhhkay, boys, there’s no need for that,” Andie sighs, tapping a hand against my arm in placation. I turn to look at her, meeting those wide brown doe-eyes as she says, “I’m a big girl, Nash. I can handle myself.”
“See?” Damon sneers, moving in closer and darting out an arm to snatch Andie around the waist. “She doesn’t belong to you.”
I register the startled surprise in Andie’s eyes as Damon tries to yank her away from me, and her momentary flash of fear makes my own vision turn red. My wolf surges forward, rage searing through my veins as I lunge at Damon.
“The fuck she doesn’t!” I snarl, rearing back a fist and cold clocking him right in the damn face. He hits the ground with a thud and I grab ahold of Andie, scooping her up and throwing her over my shoulder like a ragdoll as I mutter, “Time to go.”
Banding an arm tightly around her thighs so none of these assholes get a peek up her dress, I push my way through the crowd, ignoring the commotion I’m leaving behind and carrying her straight to the exit door. I fling it open and step out into the chilly night air, exhaling a heavy breath when I hear it bang closed behind us.
“Put me down!” Andie laughs, her voice echoing through the parking lot as she pounds her fists against my back.
I huff out a sigh as I lean forward to set her on her feet, straightening to my full height in front of her.
“What the hell!” she giggles, slapping her hands against my chest and trying to shove me backwards playfully. Trying being the operative word, because she doesn’t move me a damn inch.
“Damon’s a douche, he had it coming,” I grumble in response.
She stifles another laugh, shaking her head. I don’t know why she finds this so damn amusing.
“We were just talking,” she says, peering up at me innocently. “What’s wrong with that?”
“That’s not all he wanted to do.”
Andie wrinkles her nose. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I roll my eyes, catching her hand as I push past her. “C’mon, let’s go,” I grunt.
“Nash, stop!” she laughs as I start dragging her through the parking lot. “Hey, what the hell is your problem?!”
I slam to a halt, whipping around to face her. “You really think Damon just wanted to chat?” I scoff. “Grow up. You know as well as I do that he wanted to fuck you.”
Her brows lift, her mouth rounded in an O shape. She stares back at me for a long moment, then a spark of something mischievous flickers in her eyes as she yanks her hand out of my grasp, tilting her head to ask, “So?”
I flinch back with a scowl. “What do you mean, so?”
Andie folds her arms across her chest, lifting her chin confidently. “I’m eighteen now. I’m legally an adult.”
“And?”
“And, if I wanna fuck…”
“Don’t finish that sentence,” I snarl, cutting her off. She sucks in a breath through her teeth as I step into her space, pinning her beneath the weight of my glare.
She must realize how close to snapping I am, because she doesn’t mouth off in response like usual. Instead, she just stares into my eyes, the tension between us ratcheting up until the air feels like it’s crackling with electricity. Her full lips part to draw a shallow breath and my eyes zero in on them, a host of filthy, inappropriate thoughts swarming my mind.
