The Lady Takes a Pride — Ashley Shay; Josie Hunter

Carla Barnhart finds a murder-for-hire plot in her boss's e-mail and thinks it's a joke, but when he turns up dead, she knows she's in trouble. Taken into protective custody with a new identity as Carly Barnes, she is stashed away in Catamount, Texas, with alpha Tyler Lucas and his pride of cougars. Most of the pride knows the shy schoolteacher is meant to be their mate, but youngest brother, Cougar, has doubts this human woman will understand his need to dominate and discipline. Loving her new life and the men of the pride, Carly earns final acceptance by visiting Cougar's BDSM club and showing the Dom she's willing to learn. She thrives under the passionate attention of the shifters, but their happiness is short-lived. Trouble comes in the form of a serpent assassin determined to kill Carly, just as he killed the pride's first mate. Note: There is no sexual relationship or touching for titillation between or among the men.