To Be Fated, page 14
“Who is she?” I look up at Jude and find a sad smile on his lips.
“She was my mother’s friend.”
“I’m sorry.” I don’t know what else to say. It must be very hard for him to come home after all these years. Especially given the circumstance. It’s a dark tale that lacked a happily ever after, but hopefully with Jude back, we can ease the pain that came with such a tragedy.
“We aren’t that far away from each other.” Emma’s soft voice breaks the sad moment and I’m grateful for it. “Your packs could still do that mind talking couldn’t you?”
Jude huffs a deep laugh. “Too far. Way too far for that.”
“So you’d lose the connection?”
Jude clucks his tongue against the roof of his mouth. “We wouldn’t lose it. Not unless we break the pack bond.”
Devin speaks up, “I don’t have any intention of breaking our bond. Not with you and not with Luke and Owen either.”
All four Alphas are a sight to behold on their own, but seeing them all at once, all in agreement is an intimidating sight. It reminds me of what the seers told me long ago. About how our pack would bond and strengthen ties to be an unstoppable force. It makes me wonder what we would need to be preventing, what we’d be fighting against. The vampires flash into mind, but they’re gone instantly. It would be foolish of them to fight against us. Three strong packs aligned together and close in proximity. It would mean death to them if they even considered approaching us.
For now, there is peace, or at least a stalemate. I look down at my son and back up to my mate and hope it will stay that way. But somewhere, deep in my soul. I know it won’t.
VERONICA
MONTHS LATER…
Vince’s hand travels along my belly with care. His fingertips barely touch my skin, leaving a tickle of goosebumps in his path. His silver eyes look up at me in awe as he bends to kiss my belly. I can’t believe what he told me. I can’t imagine it’s true...after all this time. Miracles and second chances aren’t meant for people like me…but then again I have Vince. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.” He closes his eyes and rubs his nose against my belly and down lower before humming with satisfaction. “You are most certainly pregnant with my pup.” His words bring a heat of love through my blood. My eyes close to push down the emotions and I lean my head against the pillow. His hands grab my hips and tilt them so he can bury his nose between my legs. A warmth of a blush travels through my chest and into my cheeks as I let out a short laugh.
“Is that why I feel so tired?” I smile wickedly as he takes a languid, hot lick down there. It’s been a few days since I’ve taken any blood from him, but I don’t hunger for it and my fangs have lost their length. It’s been so long since I’ve indulged in fruits and breads. The taste is nothing like I remember, but it offers me some strength. Only a small portion of what I’d once had. I’d started to worry that the exhaustion was something else. That in exchange for my immortality, the drug would deliver me death. It’s something that I wouldn’t have minded before, but knowing what I could have with Vince, the pull of a fated mate and all the beauties of a fragile life, I want to live. I want to experience this.
He looks up at me with a grin, “If your pregnancy is like wolves, then you’ll sleep all day.” I’m happy he’s finally smiling again. I worried him. He wasn’t fooled when I started to show the signs of the drug working. I’d only taken a little, but it was enough.
“But how will I boss my dirty mutt around if I’m always asleep?” He laughs at my playful question before sucking my clit into his mouth. With a moan forced from me, I push my head deeper into the pillow as my heels dig into the mattress.
“That’s right.” His warm breath on my heat sends another wave of arousal through me. “Get wet for your dirty mutt.” I can feel him smile against me as he pushes his thick fingers into my pussy. He curls his fingers and hits my g-spot, the sudden sensation sends me over the edge. My body heats and numbs as waves of pleasure rock through me.
“Fuck that was quick.” I barely register his words as my body trembles beneath him. He quickly pulls off his pants and settles between my legs. He doesn’t hesitate to push all of himself into me. My fists twist in the sheets as my body bows. My lips part in ecstasy as he rocks into my body.
With my eyes closed, I hardly register the sound of tires squealing in the driveway. It happens so fast. My blood turns to ice and I’m unable to stop it. My eyes open and I push against Vince’s heavy chest as I hear the guns being fired. In rapid succession bullets fly through the air, shattering the windows and flying past our bodies. I scream as Vince’s massive frame comes down around mine, caging me in and protecting me. “Stay.” His voice is strained as his cheek pushes against mine. Pleading with me to be still and quiet under him.
My heart pounds as I’m trapped and weak beneath him. Filled with nothing but terror.
The seconds drag on as our world crashes down upon us. The glass breaks and bullets spray with recklessness. Vince’s body jolts as one and then another and then another bullet hits him. He winces in pain, and I try to push against him. To help him. To do something. I would give anything in this moment to protect my mate and ease him of the pain. Tears pour down my face as I try to hold back my scream.
His body sways as his eyes lose focus. I shake my head as my hands grab his face. The rough stubble brushes against my palms.
“Vince.” His heavy body falls as his eyes roll back in his head. “Vince!” I scream in his face. “No! Vince!” This can’t be happening. “Vince!”
I lay screaming under Vince’s heavy, unconscious body. I have no strength, no speed, no immortality. I pound my fists against him. “Vince!” My throat burns as the screams are ripped from me. “Vince!”
I barely register time passing, the tires squeal again, and all I can focus on is my mate. I pound against him, begging him to wake up. My mind is a whirl of disbelief, chaos, and utter grief.
Devin storms into the room and grips Vince’s heavy body, lifting him off me. “Save him!” I scream at Devin as he lays Vince on the floor. This can’t be happening. My head shakes violently, denying the reality.
Tears cloud my vision. As I wipe them away, I still in fear. Clear tears, the tears of mortals. I stare back at Devin as his fingers dig into Vince’s shoulder. Vince screams in agony as the bullet is pulled from his flesh. “Vince!” A glass shard digs into my knee as I crawl to him and hold onto his waist as if my life depends on his. I don’t care about the physical pain, I only care about him. My body shakes as sobs are forced from my chest. “I’ll kill them Vince.” I swallow hard, “I’ll make them pay.” Vince rolls away from Devin and opens his eyes.
“Veronica.” I crawl up his body and spear my fingers through his hair. I kiss him with everything I have. The salty tears coat my lips, but I don’t stop kissing him. My breath comes in shallow pants as his hands press on my back and pull my body to his. My arm pushes against his chest and he winces in pain. I pull back, horrified that I’ve hurt him.
“It’s silver.” Devin’s tone is deathly low and filled with concern. “We need to get him to the shed.”
“But you got them out.” I search the ground for the fucking bullets. “Did you get them all?”
Devin shakes his head before leaning down to gather a bullet and hold it out for me to see. It burns his hands, but he only snarls slightly from the pain as it singes his skin. “They’re designed to splinter,” he says.
My lips part and eyes widen as I look at the crumbling bullet between his forefinger and thumb. My poor mate.
“It’s dissolving. We’ll do transfusions until it’s completely left his system.” My body shudders as I close my eyes and let the sadness wash over me. My poor Vince will be in such agonizing pain. I nuzzle my head into his chest, letting the tears fall.
“I’ll be all right, baby.” Vince is barely coherent, but he pushes the words out through clenched teeth.
“Who did it? Tell me you know. You have to know!” I search Devin’s hard expression for something. For anything.
“We will find them. And we will destroy them. I promise you that.” I nod my head in complete agreement. I will find every one of those bastards and suck the life from them.
And then I remember my mortality. I’ve never felt weaker in my life. I give myself a moment of regret and then my eyes harden in anger. I will make this right. I look at my wounded mate and then back to Devin. “We need to go to Alec, and we need to talk to my queen.”
This world is far from over.
There are many moving pieces and other love stories to be told while fate unravels what's to come.
Up next…
Captive Desire is the sizzling story for Luke, Owen & their mate!
And the dragons are coming… literally in Under His Reign
CAPTIVE DESIRE
CAPTIVE DESIRE
Willow Winters
From USA Today bestselling romance author Willow Winters comes an unexpectedly hot stand-alone with two Alphas and one human mate. Get ready for a fast paced and steamy paranormal novella in the To Be Claimed world that romance readers can’t stop raving about.
We tracked her down, now we’re keeping her.
After all she’s our mate…
We’re the twin Alphas of Dark Valley, opposite in almost every way but both of us are shocked that we share a mate…and that she’s human. I have no idea how this pretty little woman could handle one of us, let alone both. When lust turns to obsession, neither of us will be able to fight the pull to her and I’m not sure either of us will be willing to share.
She never could have known what searching for answers about shifters could lead to and neither could we. Now the only thing she’ll be learning is who she belongs to.
If you enjoy sexy, Alpha werewolves and stand-alone, insta-love stories, complete with a happily ever after, this book is for you.
PROLOGUE
Emma
“Ugh!” I groan, sleep still heavily pulling me under as the alarm goes off. I feel like I’d just gotten to sleep and my discontent is muffled into the pillow. My bed is snug and warm, and the air is so cold that I really, really don’t want to get out of my comfy cocoon.
Beep, beep, beep.
I lazily pick up the handheld device so hell-bent on yelling at me and hit snooze by accident. Gritting my teeth, I toss it on the nightstand. My head hits the pillow and I almost let sleep pull me back under, but then I remember what day it is. Instantly, my mind wakes with excitement.
I’ve waited years for a lead and I finally got one. Wasting no time on the wish for sleep, I race to my closet and grab the first pair of jeans and tank top I can get my hands on. There are at least two werewolves hunting on land only an hour away from here according to a reputable source. I squeal internally as I dig in the pile of shoes for the only pair of sneakers I own. I’m going to need them so I can hunt down these shifters.
The alarm goes off again while I’m grabbing my toothbrush and I don’t mind the relentless beeping in the least. I smile as I turn it off and slip my phone into my back pocket. The only other object on my nightstand is an empty picture frame and looking at it makes my smile slip. My boss and the head of The Daily Tribune gave it to me for Christmas. I was going to put a picture of my parents in it, but that’s too damn depressing to have to look at first thing in the morning. I cringe and lay the frame flat. I’ll get back to that later. I have other things to focus on today. Hopefully much happier things that require my attention.
I’ve been working on this petition for nearly a year. It’s something my parents felt strongly about as well, and that alarming offering at Shadow Falls screwed everything up for me. I know there’s far more to the werewolves than the Authority lets on. And now everyone’s convinced that shifters are nothing but vicious beasts who take whatever and whoever they want and do God knows what with them. The rebellion is growing, and my petition has lost its following. No one wants to combine our worlds. They want the shifters and other paranormal beings to have even less access. Ideally none at all.
It’s a shame that a single incident could cause such an uproar and put all of my work into question. But I’m going to prove that werewolves are just like us. Well more like us than we’re led to believe.
It’s not hard to imagine the beasts with their broad shoulders and towering frames. They’re the epitome of lust and power. Forbidden and dangerous and therefore the most delightful temptation. Their dark eyes haunt me in the most delicious way. I’ve seen the way they touch the women and imagined myself on the stage. Being chosen. Offered, taken, and claimed. My core heats as the fantasy plays in my head. I snap my eyes open and cringe. I really need to get more AA batteries. My poor BOB (battery operated boyfriend) must be missing me. Silently laughing and then cringing at my joke, I have to admit how depressing my social life has become. Besides, I have been offered before and I wasn’t chosen. It’s a sad truth, but I’m not meant to belong to them. It doesn’t mean we can’t share the same world though.
I grab my keys and my backpack. Taking one last look at my nearly empty loft, I close the door and pray I can catch up to the werewolves. I need to record something, anything, to convince the world that the division we’ve created is causing more harm than good.
EMMA
With the tip I’ve been given, I’m almost certain I’m close to the pack, or at least to the two werewolves I’ve been tracking. My boots certainly have enough mud on them, and my legs are sore from all the hiking. At this point I think they want me to catch up to them. I’ve been following their footprints through the woods for almost two days now, taking me farther and farther out into the wilderness. I grew up camping and hiking; my parents loved it. But the first night felt different. I’ve spent nearly a year shoving all emotion down, but the farther I get out here, alone with my thoughts, the more difficult it is to keep everything buried. So I follow the trail relentlessly. I need to find them. I have no other option.
The werewolves’ prints are similar to wolves’ but much, much larger. All this morning I started to worry I was wrong and that they were only the marks of abnormally large wolves, but then I saw the change and human footprints replaced the paws. Watching the transition was electrifying. It’s hard to explain the rush of emotion knowing how close I am to them. Is it against the law? Yes. Did that keep me from documenting it? Hell no. It lit a fire under my ass to catch up to them when I saw those prints. It’s odd enough that there are only two of them. I expected to see more prints by now since loners are a rarity. Supposedly. At least that’s what my research has hinted at.
I should’ve headed back yesterday as soon as it got dark. It’s not like I’m really prepared to be out here on my own, but I’ve got a few power bars, another two bottles of water, and a blanket in my backpack. I’ll deal with it. All I really need is something to sleep on and something to eat. Not that I slept much last night. How could I when I’m so damn close to them?
The scout that led me here is probably shitting his pants thinking I’ve died. There’s no one who could sue him if I died on his land though, so he’ll be fine. I should’ve called him yesterday when I had a signal and told him that I found tracks and was going to follow them. I doubt he’ll come search for me. It may be his land, but he’s not a fool. The shifters have been hunting here, and he has no intention of coming between a wolf and his prey. I might believe we shouldn’t be separated, but not everyone thinks that way. Most people don’t. Because we don’t know enough.
My career is finally going to take off once I get video evidence to back up my data. I’ve been studying werewolves for years, but it’s always been received with heavy skepticism. I’m the most widely talked about journalist and researcher, and definitely respected by many, but with all of the false information out there…well, at this point I need proof to take me to the next level.
I’m willing to do whatever I need to in order to get this story. This is the chance I’ve been waiting for and I’m not going to back down for anything.
The Authority knows I want an interview and to stay among the werewolves. Their PR response that it would be unsafe for both species still enrages me. I wouldn’t have to be out here tracking prints like a hunter if they would have simply given me any contact whatsoever. Just a chance. That’s all I wanted. I’ve seen werewolves at the offerings, I’ve listened to them and their mates. It’s so obvious to me. It’s enraging that no one believes me. Humans want to believe the worst of them, and with all the propaganda and unfortunate history, it’s easy enough to simply believe what’s been fed to us. But I know the truth and I’m going to film it. I want to see a werewolf with a human mate. I know they exist. I know it in the core of my soul. Then they’ll take me seriously and my petition to merge our worlds could possibly gain some traction. If the Authority doesn’t like it, they can shove it up their asses.
The two sets of large paw prints are closer together as I near the small clearing in the woods. No longer distance between the prints that indicates large steps, they’re now merely inches apart and twist in the dirt, becoming a confusing mess. My gaze narrows as I try to differentiate the paths of the two wolves. The dark forest is bathed in filters of light as I follow their messy trail.
The scent of woods is intoxicating and the fresh air is cool against my skin. I take a moment to steady my breathing and then try to make out what exactly they were doing.
They slowed down nearly to a stop right about here, right at the entrance to the small clearing. That makes me nervous. It takes everything in me not to touch the prints. Something feels off. For the first time since I began, it feels unsettling. It’s only been about an hour since the sun rose and I found where they slept last night. They didn’t slow to eat or drink. They slept by the river, so I imagine they drank and ate there. The only other reason I can think for them to slow their approach at this clearing is because there was something here that made them stall. Other shifters maybe? Vampires?
