Hello Readers!

Happy Sunday, everyone! Fel and I are so excited to finally share that Zack, the ninth book in our Pecan Pines series is almost here. We can’t wait for you to step into Zack and Mark’s story!

One night. One pack. One fated mate he never forgot.

Mark never expected to see Zack again after their one unforgettable night two years ago. But when they both end up in the same pack just before New Year’s, fate clearly has other plans.

If you haven't pre-ordered yet, you can check it out here.

With release day coming up on December 31, here’s a small sneak peek to hold you over~

Chapter One

Mark

2 Years Ago

Weddings were supposed to be happy occasions, but I’d sung at enough of them to know that wasn’t always the case. Sometimes, they were full of awkward smiles and strained laughter, ghosts of bad decisions hiding behind champagne flutes.

But this one actually felt good. The crowd was warm, the grooms were glowing, and for a few hours, I got to forget the heaviness that had been sitting in my chest for weeks.

The soft lighting caught on the fairy-light garlands strung across the hall. As I strummed the last notes of Can’t Help Falling in Love, the guests swayed together, humming along. My voice carried over them, steady and practiced. 

When the final chord faded, I exhaled slowly. Applause broke out. It was genuine, loud, full of joy. I smiled, dipped my head in thanks, and the tension in my shoulders loosened a little.

“Mark, that was amazing!” one of the grooms, Jonah, exclaimed. He approached with a wide grin, his husband’s hand linked with his. “Seriously, you made the ceremony. We owe you.”

“Thanks,” I said, still catching my breath. “You don’t owe me a thing. Just doing my job.”

“Then do your job a little longer,” Jonah laughed, nudging my shoulder. “Stay for a drink, some food. You’ve earned it.”

I almost said no. Usually, I packed up right after a gig and hit the road. It was easier that way. No lingering, no pretending I belonged at a celebration I wasn’t part of. But tonight, something in me didn’t want to go back to the house, which was feeling cramped lately with all my brothers home, with the exception of Devon.

“Alright,” I said, returning his grin. “You twisted my arm.”

Jonah clapped me on the back before someone else dragged him off toward the dance floor. I packed my guitar into its case and left it near the stage, then made my way toward the bar.

The scent hit me before I even saw him. Warm and rich. A mix of pine and citrus with something wild underneath. My wolf stirred instantly, tail-high and alert, pressing close to the surface like it wanted to breathe him in properly.

I froze, caught off guard. I hadn’t reacted to anyone like that in years, maybe. Not since before Dad got sick, before everything changed. 

My gaze fell to the guy at the bar. He had gorgeous curls that brushed his collar, his frame slender but lean in a tux that fit him perfectly. The deep navy fabric set off his eyes, and the patterned bowtie with adorable tiny silver stars scattered across it made him look unfairly cute. He leaned against the counter, gesturing animatedly as he spoke to the bartender.

“I’m just saying,” he was ranting, “when your boyfriend, well ex-boyfriend starts scheduling your life like a calendar app, that’s not love, right? That’s control.”

The bartender murmured something sympathetic. The guy sighed and ran a hand through his hair. His frustration was sharp, sparking through his scent, but underneath it there was hurt, fresh and real. Before I could second-guess myself, I stepped up beside him.

“Depends,” I said lightly. “Was he at least a good calendar app? Remind you to hydrate and take your vitamins?”

He blinked, startled. Then he laughed. It was a low, rough sound that sent heat curling through me. 

“You always start conversations like that?” he asked.

“Only when someone’s complaining about their ex,” I said, flashing a grin as I motioned to the bartender. “Whiskey soda, please.”

He turned toward me fully now, eyes the color of storm clouds. Up close, he was even more gorgeous. He had a sharp jaw, faint stubble, lips made for trouble. His gaze flicked over me, taking in my rolled-up sleeves, the open collar of my shirt. Then back up to meet my eyes. The look wasn’t subtle. My wolf rumbled with interest.

“I’m Mark,” I offered. “Wedding singer, part-time emotional support for drunk guests.” That got another laugh. 

“Zack,” he said. “And I’m apparently the sad friend of the groom tonight.”

I raised a brow. “Apparently?”

“Was supposed to perform here,” he said, swirling the ice in his glass. “Me and my ex, are in a band. Were, I guess. He bailed when we broke up, and I didn’t feel like showing up solo.”

“Guess I saved your friend’s wedding, then,” I pointed out.

Zack chuckled. “Guess you did.”

We clinked glasses, the brief brush of his fingers against mine sending a small jolt through me. My wolf hummed, restless and intrigued. It wasn’t just attraction, it was recognition. Some instinct deeper than reason whispering, this one.

I ignored it, or tried to. “So,” I said, leaning against the bar, “how long were you two together?”

“Too long,” Zack said dryly. “It was great until it wasn’t. He’s one of those jerks who thinks compromise means you agree faster.”

I smirked. “Sounds fun.”

“Yeah, a blast,” he said, rolling his eyes. “What about you? You seem too calm to be nursing heartbreak.”

“Not heartbreak. Just life.” I took a sip, savoring the burn. “Family stuff. My dad’s sick, and things at home are a lot right now. Figured getting out of town might keep me from biting someone’s head off.”

“Ah.” His tone softened. “That’s rough. Sorry.”

I shrugged, though the knot in my chest tightened. “It is what it is. He’s hanging in there. I love them all, but I needed a breather. This gig came at the right time,” I confessed.

Zack’s gaze lingered on me, thoughtful. “Sometimes you have to leave to breathe again.”

Something in the way he said it, quiet and knowing, hit too close. I looked away, watching the bubbles rise in my drink. Around us, the laughter of wedding guests spilled over the music, a world spinning on joy while mine felt like it was stuck in pause.

“Anyway,” I said after a moment, forcing a lighter tone, “you live around here?”

“Couple of towns over. You?”

“Same. A couple of towns over,” I said. “My family and I live somewhere remote.”

“That sounds…” He smiled faintly. “Nice?”

“It’s alright,” I said. “But what about you? You gonna start a solo act now that your ex’s out of the picture?”

Zack tilted his head, giving me a crooked grin. “Maybe. Unless you’re offering to join the band.”

I laughed. “I’d say yes, but I’ve been in enough bands to know they don’t usually end well.”

Zack’s eyes gleamed with amusement, and maybe something else. “Fair. But for the record, I’m better at harmony than I am at relationships.”

My wolf liked that line too much. The air between us felt charged now, humming with something alive. Every glance stretched a little too long, every brush of his arm too deliberate.

“Tell you what,” Zack said after finishing his drink. “There’s a bar a few blocks from here. Smaller and quieter, less wedding-ish. You in?”

I didn’t even hesitate. “Lead the way.”

* * *

The night air hit cool and sharp as we stepped outside. Music from the hall trailed behind us, faint compared to the city hum. Zack’s shoulder brushed mine as we walked, his scent pulling at me again. Pine, smoke, a hint of citrus. My wolf practically pressed its nose to the air, greedy for more.

The small bar he mentioned wasn’t much to look at from the outside, but inside it was cozy. There were warm lights, low chatter, the faint buzz of a guitar from the speakers. We found a booth in the corner, half-hidden from view.

“So,” he said, settling opposite me, “you always this easy to convince, or am I special?”

“Depends who’s asking,” I said, smiling. “You might be special.”

Zack’s lips curved. “Flatterer.”

“Just honest,” I said.

The drinks arrived, and conversation flowed easily. He told me about his gigs, the messy breakup, how music had always been both his escape and his downfall. I shared bits about growing up in a tight-knit family, about my rowdy siblings, and about the quiet grief that came with watching someone you love fade.

Somewhere between his laughter and the way he leaned closer when he talked, I realized I hadn’t felt this light in a long time. My wolf had relaxed, tail swaying, curious instead of restless. It recognized him in some wordless way, a pull I didn’t dare name yet. When his knee brushed mine under the table, neither of us moved away.

“You keep looking at me like that,” I said softly, “I’m going to start thinking you’re trouble.”

Zack smirked. “Maybe I am.”

“Good,” I murmured. “I could use a little trouble.”

His gaze dropped to my mouth. “You’re not the only one.”

For a moment, neither of us spoke. The noise of the bar faded away, leaving just him, the faint thud of my heart, and the heat between us stretching tight. I wasn’t the kind of guy who believed in fate or mates or any of that storybook nonsense. But damn if it didn’t feel like something bigger was at play when he smiled at me like that. Like he saw straight past the walls I’d built to keep the world out.

“I don’t usually do this,” Zack said finally.

I arched a brow. “Go home with strangers?”

He chuckled. “No. Talk this much. Guess you’re easy to talk to.”

“Guess I am.” I grinned. “You always this charming after breaking up with someone?”

“Only when the rebound looks like you,” he said.

That pulled a laugh from me, genuine and bright. “Careful, Zack. You’ll make a guy think you mean it.”

He leaned in a little, eyes darkening. “What if I do?”

The air between us shifted again, thicker and hotter. My pulse kicked, wolf pushing closer to the surface, eager. I wanted him. Not just his body, but that spark in his eyes, the rough honesty that made the world feel less heavy.

“You dance?” I asked him, feeling impulsive and reckless. 

He snorted. “Not unless you count tripping over my own feet.”

I tilted my head, grinning. “Good thing I’m a professional, then. Come on.”

“Mark,” he said, shaking his head, but there was laughter in his eyes. “I’m serious. I’ll step on your toes.”

“Don’t worry,” I said, stepping closer, lowering my voice just enough that it brushed against his skin. “I’ll lead.”

Something flickered in his expression. Amusement, surprise, then something warmer. The music shifted into a slow, romantic rhythm, and after a small hesitation, Zack let out a breath and offered his hand.

“Alright,” Zack murmured. “But if I fall, you’re catching me.”

“I was planning on it,” I assured him

We moved toward the crowded dance floor. I slipped an arm around his waist, feeling the faint tremor in his breath as his hand came to rest on my shoulder. His body fit against mine like it was meant to.

“See?” I said, keeping my tone light as we began to sway. “You’re doing fine.”

Zack smiled, the corner of his mouth curving. “You’re doing all the work.”

“I told you I’d lead,” I said.

We moved slowly, finding an easy rhythm. The world seemed to narrow to the two of us. The slide of his palm against mine, the warmth of his chest near my heart, the faint scent of pine and something sweeter beneath. 

His curls brushed his temple when he looked up at me, and for a second, I forgot how to breathe. Zack’s gaze softened, all the earlier humor melting into something deeper. The air between us thickened with quiet tension, unspoken but unmistakable. My wolf stirred, a low thrum of awareness running down my spine.

“You’re staring,” he whispered.

“Yeah,” I said, my voice rough. “Can’t help it.”

His breath hitched. “You really shouldn’t look at me like that.”

“Why not?”

“Because I might—” He stopped, the words catching.

I didn’t give him the chance to finish. I leaned in, closing the distance between us. His lips met mine halfway. The kiss started tentative and hesitant, then became hungrier. 

The kiss burned through me, stealing every thought except the taste of him and the feel of his fingers tightening in my shirt. The music faded, replaced by the sound of his heartbeat against mine.

When we finally broke apart, he was breathing hard, eyes bright and a little dazed. My forehead rested against his, and for a moment, neither of us moved.

The warmth between us pulsed, something steady and real. I could have stayed there all night, just holding him, feeling that spark hum through the space where our bodies touched. My wolf was calm now, settled in a way I hadn’t felt in months. Like it recognized something, or someone, it didn’t want to let go of.

I swallowed, forcing my voice steady. “We’re really doing this, huh?”

Zack smiled slow, deliberate. “Yeah. I think we are.”

“Let’s head back to my motel,” I said.

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Thank you, truly, for continuing to be part of this journey with us. Your support means more than I can ever put into words. 🤍

A belated Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, happy holidays to everyone else, and I hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend!

With love,

Kara