by Lia Davis
Bundles of Pink
A Shifters of Ashwood Falls Short
Lia Davis
Bundles of Pink
© Copyright 2018 Lia Davis
Published by Davis Raynes Publishing Group, LLC
PO Box 224
Middleburg, FL 32050
AfterGlowsPublishing.com
Cover and Formatting by Glowing Moon Designs
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Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
About the Author
Shifters of Ashwood Falls Series
Witches of Rose Lake
Dark Scales Division
Bundles of Pink
Dani loves being the leopard Pack Healer of Ashwood Falls. It’s her birthright and duty to take care of her Pack in ways the Alphas can’t. Nothing could compare until her mate came into her life a little over a year ago. However, the scariest thing she has ever faced is being a mom. Nevan told her from the start he wanted kids and would be thrilled at the news. Dani isn’t sure she’s ready.
1
Dani rolled to her side and watched her mate as he slept. His brown hair was tousled from a restless night sleep. His forehead was creased, and his lips dipped in a frown.
What could you be dreaming about, my mate?
More importantly, what was he worried about?
It’d been three weeks since her heat cycle and they’d had their amazing weekend in the cabin where they’d first met. Even though she had told him she would be at the cabin by herself, medicated to deal with the heat and the pain, she caved and invited him to join her. At the time, she didn’t think she was ready to be a mother.
She and Nevan had only been mated for a year. She was still getting used to living again and not hiding her scars.
She didn’t remember much about the fire in the medical center that left the right side of her body scarred. The injuries from the accident had damaged the nerves in her right hand and arm. She needed both her hands to heal others and with one of them damaged, her confidence died. The magick inside her needed the sensation of touch to connect with the shifter she healed and without it she couldn’t be the Pack Healer. She didn’t know how to be anything but a Healer.
When she got sick of the pitiful looks and the questions on how she felt and if she needed anything, Dani retreated to the cabin that was on the edge of Ashwood Falls territory, about a mile from the small mountain town. She closed off herself from the Pack. Well as much as she could. Her adopted family—Keegan, Blaine, Alec, and Shay—would let her live in her secluded little world.
She’d given up all hope of finding a mate. So children were not an option. Just as she had accepted she would live a long lonely life, Nevan crashed into her world. He changed her world, gave her hope for a future. He also restored her confidence and made her want to live again, be the Healer she was born to be. His love had filled her heart and soul every day since they met. He never looked at her scars with pity. In fact, he loved them and said they were a part of who she was. A fighter.
Staring at him, she wondered how she got so lucky. He was a blessing in her life, and he deserved his own blessings. A family.
She hadn’t been sure she was ready when she took that leap and told him to meet her at the cabin three weeks ago. Drawing in his pine and sage scent, she sighed and pulled the blanket up over his shoulders. The idea of having a little Nevan running around was starting to grow on her even though she still worried if she’d be a good mom.
It’d been the three longest weeks of her life waiting to see if she was pregnant. She was beginning to think that the gods were working against them. Maybe they weren’t meant to have a child right yet. Then the morning sickness started about two days ago.
Why in the hell did they call it that? She wasn’t sick in the morning. Usually mid-day, which was how she’d been able to hide it from Nev. He worked as the Pack psychologist and adviser to Blaine, the leopard Alpha. His office was in the Pack corporate building on the main street of Ashwood, right across from the courtyard. Dani spent her days in the medical center next door.
As a healer, she was supposed to know if she was pregnant right away, wasn’t she? Maybe she’d been in denial for so long she blocked out the symptoms. Yet, most Healers couldn’t heal themselves. So maybe she couldn’t pick up on the early signs or tell she was pregnant as soon as another Healer would.
She sent Sasha, the wolf Healer of Ashwood Falls, a message earlier when she got up to use the bathroom. She’d asked Sasha to meet her in the clinic. Sasha would be able to tell her for certain.
A soft sigh escaped her lips and she lifted her hand to trace her fingers down Nevan’s face. He grabbed her hand in his, drawing a squeak from her, and then kissed her palm. “Morning.”
“Morning.” She leaned in and kissed him.
He wrapped his arms around her and rolled to his back, pulling her on top of him. Heat swirled inside her making her core throb with anticipation. Her leopard purred. It was a good thing they slept naked. She didn’t have clothing getting in her way.
Another change since mating to Nevan. Before she’d make sure her scars where hidden. Not anymore.
She ran her hand down his chest, then stood on her knees above him. His grey gaze darkened slightly as he drank in the sight of her. Her body tingled as if his stare was a physical caress.
Taking him in her hand, she slowly stroked. His cock throbbed in her palm, hot under her touch. He sucked in a breath and a sensually wicked smile formed on his lips. She guided him to her pussy while lowering herself on to him, his thickness stretching her. He hissed out a groan and his eyes darkened with desire.
Gods, she loved how he felt inside her.
He grasped her hips, his fingers biting into her skin as she rode him. He pumped his hips in rhythm with her. Each movement pushing him deeper, intensifying the pleasure bouncing between them through the mating bond.
Leaning down, she eyed his throat where it connected to his shoulder, then bit down. He cried out then moaned while wrapping his arms around her back, flatting their bodies together. He quickened his thrusts. She was on the edge, so close.
Then he bit her. His blunt human teeth never broke the skin, nor did they leave a mark of a mate, but she didn’t care. The sensation of his teeth on her neck made her come every time.
Her body spasmed as the orgasm ripped through her. Nevan followed her over the edge of bliss and screamed out in his own release.
She laid on top of him feeling boneless. He hugged her tight and kissed her forehead. “We need to wake up like that every morning.”
She laughed. “Stop making morning appointments and we can.”
He rolled to his side and pulled out of her. Then he sat up, threading his hand through his hair. His scent sharpened slightly then a wave of sadness rolled through the mating bond.
Sitting up, she kissed his shoulder blade. “What’s wrong?”
He glanced at her over his shoulder and gave a weak smile. “Just a weird dream. It’s nothing.” He turned and kissed her mouth. “What’s your plan today?”
Tracing her fingers down his arm, she shrugged. “I have work in the clinic this morning. Jonathan is coming by for a checkup. Then I’ll be at the community center setting up for Cam’s baby shower if Shay didn’t already finish.”
“Oh, yeah. What time does that start?”
Dani eyed him. Nevan didn’t forget things. That told her he was distracted by something. Most likely the same something that caused the nightmares he refused to tell her about. “This evening. Six o’clock.”
He kissed her quick and stood. “I’ll see you then.”
“Okay.” When he closed himself in the bathroom, she sagged and glanced down at her flat stomach. A mixture of dread, happiness, and sadness swirled in her heart. Had he changed his mind about wanting kids? She was being too sensitive and reading into his mood too much. Of course, he wanted kids. But why did it seem like he was distant lately?
If her leopard accepted the fetus, they were going to have a baby. Morning sickness was a big indicator she was pregnant. However, it was too early to start making plans. Anything could happen. Shifters had miscarriages just like humans did. Sometimes more often than humans.
She sighed and got out of the bed then padded to the bathroom. Opening the door, she stuck her head in. “I’m going for a run and will go straight to the clinic afterwards.”
Instantly, he poked his head out of the shower and narrowed his gaze. “Alone?”
She loved her overprotective human. “Yes, alone. I’m staying inside the wards.”
Ashwood Falls was protected by three rings of magickal wards. After the last attack from Felix and his mate Savannah, Shay and her mother-in-law Robyn strengthened the protection.
He frowned but nodded. “Call when you get to the clinic.”
“I will.” She crossed the room and kissed him. “Love you.”
“Love you too.” He deepened the kiss, then pulled her inside the shower.
He had her back flattened against the cool title and his cock inside her in a flash. She groaned and scored his back with her nails.
“I can’t get enough of you.” He cupped one of her breasts and thrust in and out of her pussy.
She kissed him and slid her tongue inside his mouth, twining it with his. He growled. The sound was throaty and sent a ripple of hot desire through her.
Wrapping her legs around his waist, she rode wave after wave of an orgasm. His body tensed, and his movements were jerky as he came, spilling his hot seed inside her.
They stayed in that position for several long moments. Nevan kissed her shoulder. “We definitely have to sleep in more often.”
She laughed. “Yes.”
He laughed in return, but it didn’t light his eyes like usual. Frowning, he asked, “Are you okay?”
She cupped his face and kissed his lips. “Yes. I have to go, or I’ll be late.”
The faster she got to the clinic the faster she got her confirmation from Sasha. Then Dani could plan her surprise reveal for Nevan.
Nevan sipped his coffee and stared out his office window. His body still hummed from making love to his mate. Even an hour later.
Damn. Mated life was good. So why did he feel uneasy lately? Shifters mated for life. There was no divorce. The mating bond that linked them was hard to break. And something Nevan had no plans to experience. Especially after hearing how breaking the bond almost destroyed Jared’s humanity.
A shiver ran down Nevan’s spine. He couldn’t shake the nightmare. He’d had the same one every night since they returned from their weekend at the cabin. Dani’s heat cycle was something he really wasn’t prepared for. He didn’t know how much pain she would have been in if he wasn’t there. Medicated or not.
It was something she had planned to go through alone because she said she wasn’t ready to be a mom. Yet, she invited him, said she’d wanted him there.
Dread stuck in his gut. Had he pressured her into having kids? If she was pregnant would she resent him because she wasn’t ready?
The dreams…no nightmares always ended the same. Fire and death and the cry of a baby. Then the mating bond broke. Dani was gone.
A knock on the door brought him out of his thoughts. He turned and met Graham’s stare. “You look like hell.”
Nevan forced out a chuckle and motioned him in. “Shut the door.”
“You know shifters work in this building and shutting the door doesn’t provide much privacy.” Graham shut the door and took a seat on the sofa.
Nevan glanced at his step-brother and shook his head. A teasing gleam lit up his eyes. “It’s the illusion of privacy.” Nevan faced the window again and stared out onto the courtyard in the middle of the mountain town hidden in the Smoky Mountains. “You don’t look so hot yourself.”
Graham yawned. “Cam’s not sleeping well. It’s getting hard for her to get comfortable. When she finally does get settled the triplets act like they’re trying out for the circus. Blaine and I take turns staying up with her, rubbing her belly until she falls asleep. I think we’re all ready for the girls to get here.”
Triplets. All girls. Nevan couldn’t imagine having three at once. “You’ll have your hands full soon.”
“Yeah.” Graham laughed. “I can’t wait. Sam is so excited to have sisters. Max not so much.”
“He’s the baby and doesn’t want to give that up.” Nevan sighed and sat behind his desk.
Graham narrowed his eyes. “What did you need to talk to me about?”
“I think I might have pressured Dani into having kids.”
A laugh burst from Graham. “First, let me fill you in on shifter females. They never do anything they don’t want to. Is she…”
Nevan shrugged. “I don’t know. She hasn’t said anything about it. I haven’t asked. I guess I expected to be able to tell.”
“Has her scent changed?”
Drawing his brows together, Nevan studied his brother. As human he didn’t have the super-sniffing power shifters did. But Nevan grew up with a shifter mom and three shifter brothers. He learned to hone his senses and focus on his surroundings. “I don’t think so.”
“It’s different for each female. Cam’s jasmine scent turned a little sweeter at first then developed sage-like notes after a few months. It might be too soon for you to tell.” Graham stretched out on the sofa, his long legs draping over one arm. “Don’t stress yourself out over it. There’s only a three percent chance she’s not pregnant. The question is, will her leopard keep it?”
Silence filled the space for a few minutes before Graham hardened his stare on Nevan. “What else?”
Nevan inhaled a deep cleansing breath and exhaled slowly before telling him about the nightmares. “I don’t know what it means?”
“You’re a Scribe not a Seer. However, your empathy could be picking up on Dani’s fears. The fire is her demon. Mix that with your human insecurities about losing her…you’re stressing yourself out.” Graham sat up. “You should be talking to Dani.”
“Human insecurities?” Nevan cocked an eyebrow.
“You know what I mean. Humans leave one another, get divorced. It’s rare for shifters to do it and suicidal to do it with a mating bond in place.” Graham stood and moved to the door. “You could talk to someone who knows Dani well. But I think you’re worrying over nothing.”
After Graham left, Nevan sat back in his chair and picked up his phone. He brought up the messaging app and clicked on Dani’s number. Words failed him. Worry and anxiety churched in his gut. Maybe she didn’t know or was uncertain. But if she did know why hadn’t she told him?
After hovering his finger over the keyboard for a few minutes, he typed his message.
Nev: Miss you.
She messaged back right away.
Dani: Miss you
more.
They were a bonded pair. She responded to him like she always had during sex that morning. Yet sex had never been a problem.
Then why did he feel like she was keeping something from him?
2
Dani glanced at the clock and frowned. Jonathan was late. Fifteen minutes late. “I’m going over there.”
Sasha flipped through a magazine and spoke without looking up. “Give him a few more minutes. While we wait, tell me how you are feeling.”
Was she serious? “I’m fine. I’m not the one who saved his best friend’s life and almost died in the process. On top of that, he discovers he’s a shifter. He used to hunt us down. I really think he needs to talk with Nevan.”
And Dani was rambling. Glancing to Sasha, Dani released a sigh. The wolf Healer put the magazine down and met her gaze. “Jon is a strong male. He will heal.” She stood and advanced to Dani.
Suspicion rolled through Dani. “What are you doing?”
Sasha smirked. “Jon isn’t the only one who needs a checkup.”
“I don’t either. I’m fine.” Dani waved the other Healer off and side stepped her.
Sasha crossed her arms and pursed her lips. “How long are you going to ignore your pregnancy? Until you can no longer hide it?”
Dani whirled around and glared at Sasha, who was smiling. “I’m not ignoring it. It’s just early. A lot could happen.”
“Have you told Nevan?”
“No.” Dani dropped her shoulders and hopped up on the counter. “He’s been having bad dreams and seems a little distant.”
Sasha moved closer and placed her hand on Dani’s stomach. “Nevan is an empath and is bonded to you. He could be sensing your anxiety about being a mom.”
