Hood and the Highwaymen — T.J. Nichols

Aubrey is a Red Hood, one of the king's dispensers of justice. He likes that the job gets him out of the city, but he tires of seeing too many abuse the privileges of the role. After three hoods go missing in Nightlark Woods while supposedly capturing the highwaymen, Aubrey is sent to investigate. The king warns him to be careful of werewolves, but Aubrey doesn't believe in peasant superstitions.

Lyle and Jardin are forest folk; they live in the woods not the town. They keep the trails clear and eke out an existence. For Jardin it's not enough. He wants more than scrabbling around to survive. With his lover, Lyle, he has been robbing the rich as they travel through. Some of the coins they share with the rest of the village, the rest go into their cache for the day they leave. Jardin isn't sure he's ready to leave his pack--he is one of the few werewolves still roaming the woods. If he leaves, he won't be allowed back, but he hungers for more.

When Aubrey arrives in Nightlark, he finds far more than he expected. Can he protect the wolves and serve his king? Or will he follow his heart and carve out a new life for himself far away from court intrigues?