Malcolm wouldn’t take the hint that she’d pushed him out of her life because she wasn’t delusional. Reality and practicality were hallmarks of her life. They always had been. “I hoped he’d be a fox like me and we could just go on in quiet unanimity, but he’s a pup, not a kit. The Den Elders, of course, only cared that he wasn’t a kit, and they banished us. Nothing Ellie and I didn’t plan for. As for telling you of your hybrid pup? Really Malcolm. Why would I do that? So you can try to take him from me so that my existence doesn’t harm his chances for a future in your pack or some other pack? Or we become some dirty secret that you send a cheque to each month to stay away from your carefully cultivated family? How do you think your legitimate pups will treat David the half-breed? Tell me that.” Melody pushed the soap forms toward the back of the counter by the stove and cleaned up. It was all she could do not to cry. These weren’t imaginings, but life experie
Melody was stunned he walked in here and laid down demands. Then he dictated how things would happen, not terms she could negotiate. Just this is what’s happening. At least he gave reasons. Gods, ever since she opened the door, she’d felt her body heating and melting. She needed to feel him touch her. She’d wanted it so much for so long, Melody thought she’d orgasm if he just touched her. Shoot off like pretty fireworks. “What else were you thinking these changes would hold? What do you expect in return?” Ellie looked surprised at Melody’s questions. Then she looked at Malcolm, who’s sexy smile slowly spread over his face and he stepped in close to Melody and whispered. “I told you we weren’t finished, and I meant it. You’re just going to go with the flow and see what I have in store for you.” His hand moved to push her hair back from her face to caress behind her ear. He didn’t kiss her. But his tone implied if they’d been alone, he would have. “There’s also seve
Ellie looked at her phone’s contact list and the new name, Jordan Blacksmith, right there on the glowing screen. A feeling of panic laced through her at the thought of speaking with the handsome blonde wolf with the sultry eyes and smile. She’d never spoken to him, but she was sure his voice would make any velvet feel rough. Why was she so scared of a wolf? But she could see the wolf in Malcolm right now, and it scared her. He was all but hunting Melody, and Jordan was also a wolf. An unknown wolf. She didn’t know him beyond a glimpse of a blonde Adonis in a suit worth more than her entire wardrobe. She’d heard him speak once, but not to her. It meant she would get away from the wolf who tormented her at the post office and the convenience store. How would she tell Melody about that mess was the reason she wanted to leave their new home? Oh, and that their bathroom tub leaked as well after they only just got the kitchen sink repaired. They’d be safe, right? So w
Melody was buckling David’s car seat into the back of a limo. Something she never expected to do. But here she was doing this while the others assisted the driver to pack their things into the trunk. Lucky once David was asleep, nothing short of world war three would wake him. So, he slept through all her efforts. She cursed herself and Malcolm for this. She’d left herself open for this. But why Malcolm thought it was smart to blackmail her with taking their son from her, she didn’t understand. Was he trying to keep her close for some kind of sick revenge? He kept saying they weren’t finished. Didn’t he have a track record for one-night stands and very short relationships? Melody didn’t get it. Why did he insist on Ellie going with them? Nothing was adding up. It turned everything she knew and believed on its head. Ellie entered the limo from the other door. “Need any help?” “No, this is done.” “Good. They are still packing the trunk. I don’t know what’s go
Look back at Ellie helplessly. She’d have to call Melody when she was alone again. Talk to her somehow, but Ellie wasn’t sure when she’d be alone again. Not with the way Jordan was watching her. Watching wasn’t the best of words to call the assessing stare he was giving her. Whatever he saw, he clearly liked what it was. Even out of his work clothes, his wardrobe was impeccable. From the tailored dress pants to the t-shirt he wore. She bet that t-shirt cost a good amount. There wasn’t a t-shirt in any bargain shop that fit like that. She bet it came from some men’s only boutique. She bet he wore it out with a sweater tied about his shoulders, too. Even his belt matched his shoes. Every lock of blonde hair was in place and even now he didn’t sport a five o’clock shadow like any mortal man. Malcolm was just like him. But with his hair being dark and he still wore a suit. These two men had a style that many men would be jealous, and women would want to, well, f
“Dinner. You went to all the trouble to have dinner brought in.” “I always have made sure you never lacked for anything. Proper care and consideration have always been my mainstay.” “Yes, when you’re persuading a woman in your bed. But not so much afterwards, if I remember correctly.” “There’s one difference, my sweet.” Melody felt him push her chair in and say in her ear. “I sent them from my bed, and they knew it was over long before any of them tried to make demands on me. You, however, have made no demands and I haven’t sent you from my bed. That’s where we have unfinished business.” She shivered as his hot breath fanned out over her ear and along the sensitive line of her neck. She didn’t consciously do it, but her head tilted away, exposing her throat to him submissively. Malcolm couldn’t resist placing a kiss behind her ear and whispering, “See, that’s a good girl. You know I’m right.” He stood and moved to his side of the table. Malcolm would
“We’re eating dinner?” “It’s late, but it’s the thing to do at this hour, isn’t it?” “Together?” “It’s ready at my place and it’s just next door.” “Why am I getting the feeling you’re trying to lure me with candy or something?” “Would it help?” “Gods, fine. I’ll play along for now. But I’ll have you know I have all kinds of alarm bells going off in my head because I’m drowning here in so many things being wrong here.” “Then you can tell me all about these alarm bells over dinner. This way.” That’s when everything came to a halt. Jordan didn’t go back to the entrance door to leave. Ellie thought it was a closet door or something for the mechanical, but it wasn’t. Her condo was part of a larger one. His. “Wait. Are you showing me you can enter my space anytime you want to? I’m not sure I like this.” “This is for your safety. Only I have keys to the entire building, but only Malcolm and I have the keys to this floor. W
“How did you come to the idea that we should, mate? Is this some kind of punishment? You’ll announce you were joking when I agree to your demands?” Melody didn’t know where this was going, but she was becoming defensive. “Or you’ll insist on being named his father. Then sue for custody.” All sorts of horrible things were going through her mind, and she hated all of it. “You can stop scaring yourself right now. I know you are a package deal. In fact, that is part of my demands. I expect you to be here, with David, and I insist you be here for me as well. We will mate and I am not speaking about some foolish contract mating. You’ll be mine, and mine alone.” Malcolm was becoming annoyed with her, but she was looking for loopholes and escape clauses. That was the mind that attracted him to her in the first place. “A fox shifter as Luna of your pack? Come on, Malcolm, even I know that won’t happen. Your elders will have a say about it. We both know that. I’m not
The investigation took weeks, and by then they’d moved into the packhouse. Life slowly got back to normal. The pack warmed up to Melody and Ellie. When they realized they were the minds behind their products. The she-wolves embraced them readily. Malcolm and Jordan split their time between the city and the Muskoka territory. Even the various construction projects were progressing well, with no more interference. The Fae were nowhere to be seen. But there were new rogues in the shadows of the neutral zones, and they weren’t living there quietly. The council of alphas were making plans to deal with them along with an ever pending war between the Toronto packs, the Scarborough Grove, and the Don Valley. It was something that cropped up again and again. They had history and family conflict. No one could blame them for the father they had. Now there’s a girl driving a wedge between them again, with her mere existence. Ellie was concerned about Jordan. He’d have to come to terms wi
“When I stepped into leadership of this pack, I made it clear we wouldn’t hold on to old prejudices. This might not be a message that got to some of the most recent pack members. This is a historic time and events have been fast and furious. So, I will state this again without naming names or telling tales out of school, as the humans say.” He paused and looked about. Several uneasy people were now relaxed. “That’s not to say those people will avoid the appropriate punishments later. Now, we are a wolf pack who recognizes fate can grant us mates who aren’t wolves. We don’t punish a person for their species, race, lack of magic, or anything like that. If you have a problem with another, you seek to resolve it without harming each other. Yes, I know for some that is a tough thing to do. But we do that within this pack. I have heard that someone has used their station and position of responsibility to force their political beliefs onto the pack as a whole. The reports I rece
“Now you’re sure we have everything. I’d hate to get there and find out we’re missing something.” Melody was checking her bags again. Malcolm could see her anxiety in her actions. Normally, she would never reveal it. Now he figured it was her motherly instincts kicking in to protect and care for her pups. “Melody, there will be other families there. I’m sure if you’ve forgotten something, someone will have it.” If looks could kill, Malcolm would need a healer, at least if not an undertaker, as the humans would say. Melody didn’t appreciate his assurances. As Jordan passed him with another car seat. They had to install three of them and that was the last. Jordan made eye contact with Malcolm, and they exchanged a sense of commiseration. Malcolm figured it was because Jordan just escaped a similar situation upstairs. “Ellie, let me get the base in the car and then I’ll come get the pups for you. I don’t want you to carry two of those heavy car seats. Just
Malcolm didn’t stay long after that at the meeting. The elders clearly had a lot to chew on and get straight. He’d gone on to remind them their job wasn’t to run the pack or tell people what and how to do things. They weren’t to threaten the pack members if they said or did anything. Their job was to advise and give council. Use their experience and list, assist in finding answers. Guide the next generation. Someone had lost their way and Malcolm would keep an eye on them. So this wouldn’t happen again. They were getting ready to settle down for the rest of the evening when the elders appeared at their door. This time they requested if we could introduce them to the new pack members. A far cry from the morning. Malcolm noticed the speaker wasn’t there, but Cathleen was. “I’m sorry about all of this, Alpha. I truly didn’t believe it. Gisselle was sent by the others. However, I spoke with her about how unreasonable the horrible words were. She agreed with me. I just ask that you
Malcolm was unhappy when he entered the elder’s meeting room to hear this information. What were they thinking, pulling this? Running on rumours and speculation. That wasn’t how he or how he expected his pack to run. Malcolm waiting rather impatiently for a response that didn’t appear to come fast enough for his liking. “Tight lipped, are we? Anyone else like to step up to the speaker’s spot and inform me of exactly what my mate, they accused your Luna of what and by whom?” “I can’t tell you who reported this to us, but I would love to fill you in on this. It’s rather disgraceful, over-the-top, and factually unbelievable.” Cathleen stood up from her seat, a look of sour disapproval on her face. “To make matters worse, they kept me out of the loop on the births that happened at the cottage. This, I gather, was to ensure that I didn’t spill the beans about what they were doing.” “Madam, if you’d please state the accusations that they forced m
Gisselle found herself basically being escorted to the elders. She was sure they weren’t pleased with her right now after the subtle stance she took. Now she’s having to tell them their information about the Luna was full of misleading or outright false information. That wouldn’t go down well either. She entered the building that the elders used for their private meeting. Cathleen was there this time. She’d been missing when the elders stopped in to see the Luna and recognize the pups. “I hear they left me out of the loop in being told the pup was born early this morning.” Cathleen cornered Gisselle about this as soon as she got there. “For that, I’m sorry. I left a message with someone, and they were supposed to contact everyone. Whatever happened, it wasn’t on my part, I had my hands full at the time.” “Tell me you found these fools were acting out of ignorance and that none of this is true.” “Truthfully, none of it was true. Not
When Malcolm woke up, his phone was inundated with messages, wanting to know about everything. From where was he, to be everyone alright, even a few inquiries about complaints from a couple of elders about him throwing tradition to the wind? Business seemed to be well contained, with only a few reassurances that he takes his time, and it would be managed for him. That meant he would need to deal with several things here at home, make several decisions, and find his footing in this new dynamic. If someone told him he’d be mated and a father of two right now, three years ago, he’d have laughed at them and asked them what they were smoking. Now he had one almost running. They needed to get some safety items set up in the cottage. Malcolm was there to catch David this time before he fell down the stairs. No one told him pups moved that fast. Now there were four! He thought he’d let Melody look after this. But with the mess in how people were communicati
Malcolm was more than annoyed with the elders. This was his family and his pack. That meant his word was law and what they did was overstep their place. He didn’t have to listen to their advice, and that’s all their words should be. A voice of experience or a different perspective. They shouldn’t be demanding anything. “What is going on out there?” “Insensitive, self-important ninnies every one of them. The elders were downstairs. They expected you to give birth and then get up and walk down to them so we can present the boys to them officially.” “Is that what it was?” Melody sighed and kissed David’s head as he cuddled. He was still trying to wake up after being woken up several times during the night. “I would have thought you’d want to get it over with.” “We don’t have a name for this little one. I’m not leaving anything to chance. They make me worry that if we don’t have a name, then they’ll select one themselves to expedite things. Are they still giving yo
Three hours after returning to the cottage, Malcolm saw his pup come into the world. It wasn’t at all what he’d expected and if they had any more, he’d gladly wait elsewhere. Gisselle believed the little male would be another pup. So, Malcolm finally made a list of the information he needed to add to the pack’s registry. He couldn’t believe that he’d not added Melody or David to the registry. They’d added Ellie along with the twins. He hoped that’s why no one was respecting them before this. Once things quieted down, it was late enough in the morning for the elders to make their appearance and demands clear. They wanted to be introduced to both pups and do it all official. Malcolm was more than annoyed by this. They expected to be catered to without thought to Melody’s health or anyone else. Why did it even have to be today at all? “Alpha, could you let me handle this as the Luna’s healer? It’s my duty to ensure she recovers. I know you haven’t said anyth