I can do this. I can meet her son. I can hold him and show him, love. It isn't his fault I love his mother when she isn't even mine. "Stanley, can you believe it? I am a mom," Lauren says excitedly as I come through the door to her room. Hurst's clinic is small, but the walls are built to give shifters privacy. But I still need to mindful. David will be back soon and seeing them all together as a happy family will be too painful.I offer her the kindest smile I can muster, and she smiles right back. "I sure can. You will be an amazing mother," I reply as I come to the side of her bed. I look down at the tiny male in her arms, and my heart squeezes in my chest for what seems like the millionth time. He is a perfect blend of David and Lauren. His scrunched face and mixed smell is a symbol of their union and bond. He is also a symbol of what I will never have. "Stan? You okay," Lauren whispers, and my eyes snap to hers. Worry clouds the depths of her beautiful brow
"That's nice. Is Andrew comfortable with that," I ask as I follow behind my twin with my hands tucked in my pockets. "Yeah. He commented on how much he would miss all of us, and Boyd offered to go over," he answers while looking at me for a second. I'm glad the human has accepted all of us. Sam needs him in her life. I was surprised though when Dan called to say Mr. polk would be coming back with them to buy a place in town, but it seems to be working out. I nod uncomfortably before taking a deep breath and running my hand through my hair. I need to discuss more important matters than the friendly human though. "That's good. I am happy he seems to have accepted us. I umm...I know you just got home, but there are some things we need to go over now that you are back. For one, we need to talk about the bears. I don't like that they are hiring assassins to eliminate our Luna. We need to talk to them. I mean, Samantha hasn't done anything wrong," I say, and Dan halts abruptly.
STANLEY POV "Are we sure this won't turn into an ambush," Dan asks as he looks around at the log cabins built close together. The entire drive he has been this way. But I get it. His mate has been kidnapped, shot, and now she has an assassin after her. "I have spoken on the phone with Mrs. Orson several times. She has agreed to hear us out. We are meeting in the community public building. They hold discussions there and vote on community matters. It should be safe," I reply as I open the driver's side door. They follow my example and exit the car cautiously. Samantha and Dan share a look over the roof before he gives me a nod. I return the gesture, and we head for the larger building situated in the center. As my talks with Kendall Orson have progressed, the anger has lessened, and understanding has been evident in her voice, but an in-person meeting will prove whether or not the bad blood has indeed been washed away. Daniel knocks on the solid wood door twice before step
STANLEY POV Steady grunts leave my mouth as I toss square bails of hay thirty feet into the air. My shifter body is nearing its breaking point, and that's saying a lot. I have been working for thirteen hours straight, and I keep finding more projects to do in the barn. Tasks that don't really need to be done. Like reorganizing our winter supply of hail bails.Keeping myself busy and out of the house has become a necessity for survival at this point. Lauren and her adorable son seem to be everywhere. She hasn't returned to work yet, so at least the office is still a safe place. However, that does me no good on days like today...Saturday. My haven is closed, and the pack expects me to be here. "Hello, big brother," Finley says as he comes strolling up behind me. I grunt louder to acknowledge him, and he chuckles."Not even a smile...wound up that tight, huh," Finley asks, and I freeze midswing. "Don't start," I growl, not even looking his way. Finley moves closer, and I throw
STANLEY POVThe cart the stewardess is pushing, rattles as another brief moment of turbulence jostles the plane, and I tense again. I can't believe I agreed to this.When Fin mentioned flights I was so wrapped up in my feelings for Lauren, I forgot how much I detest these machines. I figured we would start with an area close by home but Samantha decided that Panama City, Florida, would be a good starting point for our search. So of course, that meant I would be on an airplane. A unsafe, unnatural form of travel invented by insane humans...Humans. Animals who are as breakable as a piece of China."I forgot how much you hate this," Finley chuckles from beside me, and I give him a stern sideye."Shut up," I order, and his laugh evolves into a loud boom that gathers attention from the other passengers."Don't be like that. The is supposed to be fun," Finley laughs, and I hold back a growl before rolling my eyes.Nothing I say at this point will get him to lay off. He has found something t
STANLEY POV The blaring music feels like thunder against my sensitive ears, and I keep having to grind my teeth together to push past the pain. "Yeah, I think earplugs would have helped," Finley mumbles from next to me, and I look at him with a, "you think" expression. He chuckles nervously before shrugging. He shoots back a swig of his weak beer and points toward the crowd with his hand. "See anyone special," Fin asks, and I shake my head while thoroughly searching the crowd. I haven't smelled or spotted anyone special: just half-naked women and desperate males competing for attention. "She isnt here, and I'm having an awful time," I reply, and Fin nods as he looks toward the door. "I guess I thought this would be more interesting than just standing here. Why do people like this type of social activity so much" Fin asks, and I shrug. "Beats me. I guess the people who don't have soul mates have to find partners in other ways," I reply after a few seconds, and
STANLEY POV I sigh as I lean my head against the stiff headrest of the rental car I made Finley get. I refused to ride in another airplane. It will add time to our trip, but really there isn't any rush for us. I can do most of my work from my laptop, and Finley just has the farm. "This pack is a good size, roughly Fifty-five adult members, I believe. The Alpha sounded excited by our visit...practically eager," Finley says over the GPS as it instructs him to turn. "How many females," I ask, and he shrugs. "Probably not many that aren't mated, but he has daughters. His son has already mated. He takes over in a few years, so the daughters are free to leave. It sounds like the son wanted to enjoy the first few years of his relationship stress-free. The daughters are of age...Might be some hope there," Finley says, and I nod. In my head, I grimace. Emma is an Alpha daughter, and my sister gives Alpha daughters a lousy name. They expect the world on a platter. They love being ca
STANLEY POV The pungent scent of female arousal is giving me a migraine. The smell of my medium rare steak isn't even strong enough to save me from the two females in front of me. "So, the two of you are both Alpha offspring," the redhead asks, eyeing me hungrily. I nod and take a bite of my mashed potatoes. I want to growl at her and the female sitting next to her, but I know our pack cannot afford an enemy of this size. I have to maintain a facade of professionalism. Besides the other females have been very polite, and they don't deserve to have their dinner disrupted. "Yes. Our father is an Alpha, and our brother is an Alpha. Stan and I are a part of our brother's pack, but we don't have any plans of becoming Alphas," Finley says almost sternly, and I fight my smirk by taking a sip of my beer. "What a shame. Being Alpha should be the goal of every wolf—especially wolves with Alpha bloodlines running through their veins. Your power and stamina need to be used," the br
TABITHA POV I take a few more deep breaths before leaning forward to apply my mascara. I have been feeling anxious since Hurst did the ultrasound to measure our baby. He said everything looked good and sealed the gender in a small envelope before passing it to Stanley. Waiting three days to know what was written on that tiny piece of paper has been torturous. I finish my makeup and head out of the bathroom to find Stanley wearing a shirt that has one side pink and the other one blue. I instantly smile and cross my arms. Compared to my simple white dress he looks extremely colorful. "You look adorable," I say with a grin, and he does a twirl with his arms held out wide. "I am so excited to know," Stan says and I nod while biting my lip so I don't laugh. He sees the humor on my face though and walks towards me smirking. "Am I amusing you, Tabitha," he asks while pulling me to him and I can't help but giggle a little. "A little," I admit and he kisses my lips. "G
MIKE POV "I don't regret having sex with you. This has been the best day of my life! I messed it up by taking it too far. I can't even properly explain what I did wrong," I say and her tear-streaked face looks puzzled for a brief second. I know she is thinking back to what happened and what she felt when I marked her. I can't believe I lost control of myself. I took away her choice, plus I hurt her. I vowed to never do either of those things and I failed her. Suddenly Carmen begins to laugh while tears continue to cascade from her eyes. I instantly get even more worried. I can't believe I have broken her this completely. "You chose me as your life partner. You marked me," she says happily after a few tense moments and I stare at her utterly bewildered. She wipes her face completely disregarding her makeup. She ends up looking like she has bruised eyes, but I don't care. "Yes. I... Aren't you upset," I ask cautiously and she shakes her head? "Of course not. T
CARMEN POV rated R The grip Mike's hands have on my hips feels so good. It's like he is anchoring me to the floor because he knows I might float away. I am so blown away by the fact Mike hasn't been with anyone. It makes me feel less anxious about what we are about to share. Mike's hands leave my hips and slide up my stomach to my breasts. When his hand squeezes my B-cup breasts my loins begin to blaze with desire.I moan into his mouth when he squeezes my breast a second time and he takes that as a sign because, in the next second, he scoops me up. He walks to his bed and lays me down so gently my heart melts. I keep my eyes on him as he steps back from me and I giggle when I see him removing his clothes as if he is in a race. But my giggle doesn't last for long as his thick muscular body comes into view. I know my mouth is hanging open as I look him over but I don't care. He is practically scrumptious. His creamy skin is flawless and the V-line above his impressive package i
MIKE POV pg13 Another loud thud rips through the air from the tack room and Boyd growls under his breath. "I fucking hate him. He is throwing a fit and making the horses skittish," Boyd grumbles extremely low and I nod before leaning my fork against the wall and removing my gloves. I nod toward the stall door and Boyd copies me by taking off his gloves."Now," he asks and I nod. I am tired of the tension this wolf brings to the pack. We are slowly letting our raised fur go down and this guy is ruining our progress. He hates ranch life, but we didn't ask for the council to send him. We step out of the stall and spot a broken shovel in the middle of the walkway. "Killian," I snap, and the asshole comes stomping out of the tackle room. "What," he barks back and Boyd steps to my side. He runs his eyes over our united front for a second before losing the tension in his shoulders."What the hell are you doing," I ask looking toward the broken equipment and back to him. He
CARMEN POV "You look so mature now," Tabitha whispers as Sam continues to line my lips with a steady hand. They haven't let me peek in the mirror at their work yet but the way Sam keeps pausing to stare at me has me guessing I look good. When they pulled me into Sam's bathroom I didn't really know what the plan was, but they got to work like they rehearsed this plan daily.Tabitha grabbed manicure items and got to work on my fingernails. Sam began exfoliating my face. Mariah was put in charge of my hair and I have been pleasantly surprised at how gentle her hands can be. Forty-five minutes later and my hands look elegant, my face has makeup on it, and Mariah has started to put the hot tools away. "You are going to knock his socks off, Carmen," Sam says with a mischievous smirk that makes me feel a little shy. "Your hair is so thick! I am jealous," Mariah says from behind me and I giggle a little. "Don't be jealous of me. I am a broken, weak human girl. You three are gorge
RATED R TABITHA POV "There you are," Stan says as he opens our bathroom door to find me washing my face. I give him a smile and try to hide my pity for his new state. My poor mate can't find me by smell any longer and that hurts. He has to strain his weak ears or spot me with dull eyes to know where I am. While I can still pinpoint him by sniffing the air. I know if I were unable to smell his alluring scent I would be devastated. "Sorry, I figured you knew," I reply and he brushes it off with a wave of his hand while continuing toward me. "As long as I found you I don't care," he whispers before pulling me toward him by my hips. I smile and drape my arms around his neck. "Oh really," I whisper back playfully, and he smirks before kissing my jaw. "Yes really," he mumbles before continuing down my neck. My lady regions flare to life as his tongue and warm breath dance along my flesh. Every night, since he gave me the okay has been like this for us. Constant touching and sex t
CARMEN POV I gasp as Mike's hot breath fans my neck and his hands grab my waist from behind. Tingles erupt in places I thought were dead and he chuckles before pecking my cheek. "Morning, cutie," he says cheerfully and I manage to swallow down the extra saliva in my mouth so I can answer him. "Morning," I reply and he shoots me a wink before taking his coat off. The slightly warmer weather has been keeping Mike in his long sleeve shirts rather than his coat and my feminine needs have definitely noticed how tight the fabric wraps around his biceps. As Mike walks away from the coat rack to begin shoveling out the stalls my eyes zero in on his thick thighs and cute butt. My heart rate increases and my ears begin to get hot. How can that man be into me? He belongs in calendars hanging able high school girls' beds. "Better wipe that drool from your chin," Finley whispers as he walks past me, and I jump before doing just that. My face burns scarlet red and I disappear
STANLEY POV I breathe deeply so the faint scent of roses can waft up my new human nose and I smile. Her warm body feels so good pressed into my cold one. I missed her and I know she missed me. I wish I could still hear our pup inside her, but I will take what I can get. I kiss the top of her head and she shifts a little in her sleep. It feels strange to be so calm, but I have nothing to stress about now. I only want to think about my mate and our family. I am done worrying and working in town. Every minute of the rest of my life will be spent on this land with my mate. I don't want to waste a moment on anything that isn't truly important ever again. And the only important things are my loved ones. I smile again as I give Tabitha a weak squeeze. Before the Mother Luna left she made a promise to our pack. A promise of protection from any more outside forces. She said the shifter world owes us a great debt due to how many threats we have eliminated, starting with Graham Layne.
As the pack sat and waited anxiously for The Luna to arrive, Daniel and Forest continued to act strange. They seemed to be as excited as children the night before Christmas. Tabitha and Sam weren't at all pleased with their behavior. The pack was still in mourning and would be for a while, but they seemed overjoyed to have a visitor dropping in during this difficult time. Mike and Carmen didn't seem to mind the lighter mood. It seems they were experiencing their first few moments as a couple since Mike had yet to release Carmen's hand. Carmen didn't mind the contact with the muscular cowboy. In fact, she was loving it. Darcy and Killian didn't sit on the couches with the pack which really rubbed Finley the wrong way. His eyebrows were pulled down over his warm chocolate eyes making them look dark and gloomy. His hands were curled into tight fists and his clenched jaw was making the young shifter look more severe. After an hour of uncomfortable silence and scattered conver