STANLEY POV The grease pops in the pan again, and I jerk as the scorching hot liquid lands on my wrist. Fast healing doesn't eliminate pain, and I have always hated pain, but when your mate is just coming out of a two-week grief fast, you cook things that hurt you. "That smells great," Lewis groans as he comes into the massive new kitchen. He makes a beeline for my sizzling pan of bacon, and just as his fingers come into view, I swat at him. "Make your own when I am done. These are for Tabitha," I snap, and he groans again, but this groan sounds more painful than pleasurable. "Man, come on, have a heart. I am a starving wolf who just came in from feeding the livestock. You are really going to deny me protein. Have you been outside? It snowed like five feet last night. Come on," he whines, and I roll my eyes before tossing him the smallest strip. "Now get out of my ear. I have a half-starved mate to feed, and you have two capable hands," I say, and he chuckles before
TABITHA POV I place the plate down slowly as I secretly peek toward the living room. The twins haven't come back out of their wing, and the rest of us are becoming more curious.The rest of the guys had to go check the animals, and I decided to set the table for lunch. Sam and Mariah are cooking, but I can tell from their silence they are eavesdropping. "Spill," I whisper as I return to the kitchen. "This place makes overhearing conversations hard. But we caught some as they showed them around. Now we can't hear them," Mariah whispers, and I nod before glancing at Sam. "Do you believe her innocent explanation or..." I hint, and Sam rolls her eyes before shaking her head. "That..female...was hitting on Daniel. It was clear, and then she switched to Stan. I don't know how her father's pack operates, but it's clear they like to bedhop," Sam angrily whispers before slamming the tray of grilled ham and cheese sandwiches she made. Mariah shifts Trevor from her left hip to he
BOYD POV Every few seconds, Sarah giggles and looks Finley over like he is a steak. My wolf and I both are disgusted. He wants to rip Finley apart, and I want to order her from the room because she is making my friend uncomfortable. Finley moves every time her eyes sweep over him, and when she giggles, he visibly cringes before looking at me. I have given him at least half a dozen reassuring head nods. I know he isn't trying to flirt with her. Everything he says, whether it's humorous or not, she laughs. I'm not going to tell him not to speak during a meal with our pack. This is his home. He should feel comfortable, and my "mate" is not allowing him to be.Sydney has been more discrete with her lust, but I have spotted her eyes shifting to Stanley numerous times as well. Stan hasn't noticed, but Tabitha has. "Stanley, I yield. This place is too much to clean on our own. I want two maids hired and a full-time chief. The company that will be testing the area for oil is due in two
STANLEY POV "Today was weird and uncomfortable. I thought Boyd and Mike, were going to lose it," I mumble as Daniel, and I shovel out the remaining stall. "Those females are insane," Daniel grumbles as he throws a shovel full of manure into the wheel barrel. "I don't understand how they are fighting the pull of the bond. They act as if Mike and Boyd mean nothing to them. I couldn't imagine flirting with anyone other than my mate, but to do it in front of her. Craziness. These females either have a death wish or a plan. What do you think," I ask as I lean on my shovel? Daniel growls and looks towards the tackle room before responding to me. "I have heard about situations like this...Mom was saying Emma doesn't believe in old fashion mate bonds. She wants to go off to a human college and separate from the pack. It's happening more and more all over. But these pups don't consider the threat. The shifter gene is stronger than the human gene. We are going to have shifters ev
STANLEY POV Tabitha's beautiful blue eyes look from me to Sydney twice as I stare at her and her alone. Finley's angry voice begins to filter into the room, but I can't decipher what he is saying. My mind is a foggy swirl of anger and fear.On one hand, I have a vile female who isn't mine touching me in an area that no female has ever touched, and on the other hand, I have my mate seeing another female touching me in an area that only she should ever touch. I don't know where to move or what to do. Sydney's hand twists my package as she grows angry at me for avoiding her lips, and I cringe. Tabitha sees my reaction and her body seems to grow as her bear bursts forth. Sydney doesn't turn around to investigate the sound of popping bones. She seems intent on something.Just as the sound around me reaches astronomical levels, a searing pain rips through my neck, and my wolf howls as my body convolts. Sydney has sank her fangs into my neck, marking me as hers.******** THIRD PERS
TABITHA POV rated R Bolts of desire travel down my spine as Stanley's warm breath fans my neck. "You are the most beautiful woman," he whispers before kissing my collarbone again. I moan as the sensation sends my body over the edge, and he grins against my skin.He lifts his face and stares into my eyes while slowly running his fingers through my hair. "I'm sorry that the beginning of our relationship has been one hardship after another," he whispers, and I lick my lips as my eyes search through the emotion in his. "It doesn't define our relationship," I whisper, and he smiles. He nods and blushes a little before looking back at me. "Good. Because I love you, I love that my wolf chose someone who shares my personality. I love everything about you, Tabitha. No one could ever replace you," Stanley says, and my mouth stretches into a big smile. "I love you too. You are the reason I am still here. Without you, I wouldn't have gotten through losing Mom," I whisper, and
STANLEY POV The ashen looks on the twin's faces make me want to barf. I couldn't imagine losing my mate and knowing your pack killed them... "Sydney marked Stanley," Mike asks in a low voice, and Sam nods as I pull down the collar of my shirt. Tabitha's saliva healed the jagged edges of the bite, but the scar is permanent since it was in the traditional spot for a mark. I will be with her assault for the rest of my life. "Shit," Boyd whispers as he stares at the horrendous scar. Mike closes his eyes and rubs his face. I can tell he doesn't want to focus on my face for very long. His instincts are probably demanding my death right about now, and he is probably ashamed of the actions taken by his mate. "And Sarah was completely naked," Boyd asks Fin, changing our focus.Fin folds his arms over his chest as he grows visibly uncomfortable. He focuses his eyes on Boyd, and Tabitha shifts around in her seat nervously.I know she feels guilty because she is the one who chos
STANLEY POV I smile my fake-lawyer-smile as I shake another applicant's hand.The interviews haven't gone as great as I thought they would. Finding a reliable male chief hasn't been easy. In fact, it has been tedious and unrewarding. Between the egos, unreliable schedules, and lack of job history, I haven't managed to find anyone. I press the intercom after a few moments, and I smile when I hear Tabitha's voice.Having her as my office secretary has been wonderful. She has streamlined so many things that work has become a breeze. I never realized how little Lauren actually did around here. "Yes, boss," she says teasingly as she enters my office, and my smile grows. I love her so much that sometimes it is hard to breathe. Over the past month, things have calmed down within the pack, and our bond has had time to blossom. The twins have grieved, and we haven't had any attacks. We have finally had some peace. "He isn't going to work out. Sam wants someone full-time," I say, and