by Kimber White
Again, he had me speechless.
“Payne,” I said. “I pretty much thought you were going to fire me.”
“I thought about it,” he said, not missing a beat. “I’m not happy you didn’t trust me with your suspicions about Soren in the first place. But, I know why you didn’t. If it had been Lena...hell...a few years back it was Lena. The men I served with in Mammoth Forest back in Kentucky...we aren’t pack, but they’re my brothers. In your shoes, I might have gone to them first too.”
“Thank you,” I said. “It means a lot to me that you still have faith in me.”
“What I have,” he said, reaching into his back pocket. “Is this.”
He handed me a key. “Welcome to your new office space,” he said.
My jaw dropped. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
“Your mate’s here, right?” he asked.
“Um...yes. Willow’s taken a job not far from here.”
“Good. So it’s settled. You’ll run the New York office for me. For us.”
“Thank you,” I said. It seemed inadequate, but it was all I had. I swallowed past a lump in my throat.
“Don’t thank me yet,” he said. His expression grew grave. I let out a breath. There was one last thing we needed to discuss.
I had given Payne the disk Soren implanted in me. He had friends in northern Michigan in Wild Lake who were trying to analyze it. They had access to one of the only doctors in the world who specialized in shifter medicine.
“You know,” he said. “I thought we’d have more time. Before the next war. No, that’s not even it. I’m beginning to think it was wrong to believe what happened in Kentucky was the end of a war. I think it might have only been the beginning.”
My heart felt cold. Payne was saying the things I had feared.
“I think you’re right. Soren told me he bought Willow. Her father swears it wasn’t from him and he had no idea who Jason meant. I’m pretty sure Rousseau doesn’t even know shifters exist. He certainly didn’t know Jason was one. So, there’s someone else. Someone bigger than Rousseau or his mafia associates. The Ring Willow heard Soren talking about,” I said. “Were you able to find out what it is? Who Soren was answering to?”
“Not exactly. I don’t know if this Ring is an actual ring, or a person, many people...we just don’t know yet. But that implant, it was sophisticated. The shifter doctor we sent it to had never seen anything like it. Whoever Soren was working with or for...they might be more dangerous than anything we’ve seen. So, I need men I trust working with me. If Jason Soren is what I suspect, just one head of a giant Hydra...things might get worse before they get better. You ready for that?”
I answered almost without thinking. I felt the truth thundering through me. “Yes,” I said. “I don’t ever want another shifter to go through what I did. If it’s a war we need to bring, I’ll be ready. And it’ll be my honor to serve alongside you.”
Payne’s jaw tightened. He stuck out his hand and shook mine in a solid grip. He wasn’t my brother. He wasn’t pack. He wasn’t even family. But, my loyalty to Payne and to Wolfguard was a pact I would honor for the rest of my life.
“Good,” he said. “Now call up that mate of yours. I want to meet Willow. Lena does too. I have a hunch the two of them will make fast friends. God help us both.”
That got the first genuine smile out of me. I slapped Payne on the back, pocketed the key he gave me. Then, the two of us walked out of the office...my office, together.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Val
I loved her in her ripped jeans and trademark knit beanie. I loved her in nothing as she writhed beneath me and gasped my name. Tonight though, Willow descended the apartment stairs wearing a stunning, royal blue designer dress that hugged her curves and plunged low in front. A predatory growl escaped my lips as she got close. I wanted to devour her, keep her all to myself. But, this was her night as much as it was mine.
I leaned against the limo door, trying to keep my wolf from coming out.
Willow’s eyes shone as she spotted me. She held a little silver clutch purse in her hand. She grabbed the flowing end of her dress and did a little curtsey in front of me.
“I brought your glass coach, Cinderella,” I said.
“My, what big eyes you have,” she whispered.
I laughed. “I think you’re mixing up your fairytales.”
“Mmm,” she said, sliding her hands up my lapels. She straightened my bowtie. I kissed her, careful not to mess up her makeup. There would be plenty of time for that later. God. I had a vision of bending her over the kitchen counter of her apartment and seeing just what she wore under that blue dress.
“It matches your eyes,” she said, running her hand down the fabric.
“You’re getting good at that,” I whispered.
The driver waited behind the wheel, keeping his eyes straight ahead as I helped Willow into the back seat.
“Good at what, my love?” she asked, her voice low and sultry.
“Reading my thoughts,” I said. It was new. In the two months since I first claimed Willow, I’d marked her at least a half a dozen times since. Each time, our bond grew even stronger. Now, in the quiet, she could hear my thoughts if I opened them to her. It was the same for me.
I called for the driver to pull away. When I turned back to Willow, she had a strange look in her eyes. She was homesick.
“Baby?”
She blinked rapidly. “No...it’s just...I thought it would be a long time before I rode in one of these again. And I mean...I don’t need it. It’s just, life has a funny way of working itself out.”
“Well,” I said. “Can’t have the new mate of the head of the New York office of Wolfguard Inc. riding the subway to this.”
She leaned in and kissed me. “I’m so proud of you, Val. You’re amazing.”
“So are you,” I said. “So much so...I think I want to make this a short night.”
I kissed my way down her neck. I grew bold, sliding a thumb beneath her bodice. Her nipple peaked for me. I felt her heat beneath the fabric. She gasped.
“Val!”
God, I loved that. She would rise for me from just a whisper. I knew her body like I knew my own. Every inch. Every curve. Every goosebump as I ran my tongue across her lip.
I never knew how good it would be to have my mate beside me. My heart beat for her. Her joy. Her sorrow. Her pain. I would go to the ends of the earth and back giving her everything she needed. Right now, she needed me. Badly.
I lost track of time. The driver pulled up in front of the Flatiron Building. Too soon. I thought about having him drive around the block again.
Willow’s cheeks flushed with desire. Oh, I would enjoy sating it. Over and over. I would take her to new heights tonight. Willow let out a little moan as she read my mind.
“Come on,” I said. I didn’t wait for the driver to get the door. The cool, night air would do my mate good. She took my hand and we stepped outside.
It was all I could do to keep my hands off of her as we rode the elevator.
“What?” she said, seeing the mischief in my eyes.
I tried to keep my mind blank. I had two surprises for her tonight. The first would greet her as soon as the elevator doors opened.
When they did, her hands flew to her mouth.
“Val! Are you serious? You did this?”
“I did,” I said, beaming.
I’d redone the lobby of the Wolfguard-New York offices. Willow’s photographs adorned the walls. She’d been working on a cityscape series. She captured the glittering nightlife in unique, gorgeous detail. Now, her talented eye would be on display to some of the most powerful people in the city. I hadn’t yet told her, but the receptionist was already fielding inquiries. Willow’s first gallery showing at the end of the year would be a sellout; I was sure of it. And I was so damn proud of her. This night, and every night I was with her, I felt like I could conquer the world.
She was charming, effor
tless as she helped me work the room. Tonight was the office grand opening and it mattered that I made a good impression. With Willow on my arm, I couldn’t help it. We were perfectly matched.
Payne and Lena were here. Willow took to her right away. I was glad she had a friend and confidant who knew what the life of a wolf’s mate really was.
My brother Andre moved heaven and earth to get here. He was proud of me. And it didn’t hurt that some of our potential new clients got to meet the head of the most powerful Russian wolf pack.
Payne was thrilled. More than once he told me how sure he was I was the right choice to lead this project. I more than anyone knew how important it was. We needed powerful allies if we were going to uncover who Soren’s pack was working with.
But all of that faded into the background as I watched Willow work the room.
“She’s stunning,” Andre stood beside me. “And it’s about time you found her.”
“I’m so glad you’re here,” I said. We would need Andre’s help too in the coming years. His two children, my niece and nephew, stood together at the back of the room. Milo smiled as his sister Grace whispered something in his ear. Grace could bring us one of the most powerful allies of all. She was married to a dragon shifter. That was one secret I had yet to share with even Willow.
“Does she know?” Andre asked. For a moment, I thought he was talking about his dragon son-in-law, Gideon.
“What?”
Andre patted my breast pocket. Damn him for being so wily. He felt the outline of the ring box I brought with me. I kept it close to my heart at all times, waiting for the perfect moment.
“No,” I said. “Not yet.”
“Well, I suggest you stop waiting for the perfect moment. I’d say it’s now.”
He was right. Willow caught my eye from across the room. She threw her head back, mid-laugh. Her eyes sparkled. Her cheeks flushed with that lust-filled secret we shared. I slipped her panties off her in the limo.
She bit her lip and nearly undid me.
“We’re all here,” Andre said. “Your family. Your new partners. And she got some good news she’s about to share.”
Sure enough, Willow moved toward me. Her eyes glistened with happy tears. Her thoughts reached me, elated, unbidden.
They’re letting my father go!
I heard her thoughts ring through my head. Andre patted me on the back, sipped his gin and tonic then disappeared into the crowd.
I slipped an arm around Willow. As my guests mingled, I found a quiet, empty office and took her inside.
“How do you know?” I asked.
“They dropped the charges,” she said. “I just got a text. One of the witnesses against him went south. Val, did you do this? Your family? Was it Payne?”
I shook my head. “No. No one’s said anything to me.”
Darkness came into her eyes. I knew she worried about Soren’s reach from beyond the grave as much as Payne and I did. But, tonight was a night for celebration. My brother was right. Now was the perfect time.
“Let’s just be happy for him for now,” I said.
I kissed her. As our lips parted, I knew Willow already suspected what I was about. I went down on my knee anyway.
She put her hands over her mouth. Her tears fell freely as I opened the red velvet box and revealed a four-carat sapphire encircled with diamonds.
“Will you marry me, my love?” I asked.
She was my mate. My life. We were already bonded forever and I knew her mind. Still, it felt good to hear the words.
“Oh, yes!” she squealed as I slipped the ring on her finger.
Willow wore my mark. Now, she wore my ring. I sealed it with a kiss and swept her off her feet.
“Here, here!”
The chorus behind me took me by surprise. I’d been so focused on Willow, I didn’t know we were being watched.
She giggled as I turned. My brother, my niece and nephews, and most of the men of Wolfguard looked on. They raised their glasses in a toast.
Later that night, I took Willow back to the North Woods of Central Park. We had our own secret place there now. I would take her so many other places as we shared our life. For now, this felt most special.
I made love to her. I tasted her sweetest honey. I marked her as mine all over again.
“Go,” she said after the fourth or fifth time we made love. She lay naked on the blanket I brought, leaves stuck in her hair.
“Do it for me,” she said. “I want to watch you.”
Smiling, I let out a howl. In one fluid movement, I shifted, letting my wolf out as Willow had commanded.
We had battles to fight, she and I. There might yet be a war to come. But that night and every night, we would face it together. And we would win. I knew it in my soul.
I ran to the top of the nearest hill. With the moon and the waterfall at my back, I raised my head. I declared my love for my mate in a primal howl that echoed around the world.
Up Next from Kimber White
CLICK TO LEARN MORE
Things are heating up for the Wolfguard Protectors. Up next, follow Leo as he chases down an ancient relic that may hold the key to uncovering who or what The Ring really is. Oh, and there might just be a curvy, sassy, museum curator who gets in his way and stirs his inner Alpha. Rahr! Don’t miss Echo of Magic, the next sizzling book in the Wolfguard Protector Series.
Sign up for my newsletter if you want to be the first to know about my new releases. You get a free ebook when you join. http://www.kimberwhite.com/newsletter-signup/
Books by Kimber White
Wolfguard Protectors
Shift of Fate
Echo of Magic
Kiss of Midnight
* * *
Dragonkeepers Series Page
Kissed by Fire
Tempted by Fire
Marked by Fire
Claimed by Fire
Freed by Fire
* * *
Mammoth Forest Wolves Series Page
Liam
Mac
Gunnar
Payne
Jagger
* * *
Wild Ridge Bears Series Page
Lord of the Bears
Outlaw of the Bears
Rebel of the Bears
Curse of the Bears
Last of the Bears
* * *
Wild Lake Wolves Series Page
Rogue Alpha
Dark Wolf
Primal Heat
Savage Moon
Hunter’s Heart
Wild Hearts
Stolen Mate
* * *
Claimed by the Pack Series Page
The Alpha’s Mark
Sweet Submission
Rising Heat
Pack Wars
Choosing an Alpha
The Complete Series Box Set
About the Author
Kimber White writes steamy paranormal romance with smoldering, alpha male shifters and kickass heroines (doormats need not apply). She lives on a lake in the Irish Hills of Michigan with one neurotic dog, her sweet, handsome son, her fire-breathing warrior-princess of a daughter, and the most supportive husband any writer could hope to have (seriously, he just took said son, daughter, and dog out for a boat ride so she could finish this book in peace!).
She loves connecting with readers. Sign up for her newsletter for the latest word on her new releases. You’ll get a free ebook as a welcome gift.
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