MARCUS: New Orleans Billionaire Wolf Shifters with plus sized BBW mates (Le Beau Series Book 10)

by V. A. Dold

  M: I know, but Dad wants this fucked up situation to have a clean ending.

  E: Fine. I’ll drop his ass off in the Bayou. Maybe a gator will get him.

  Marcus chuckled. M: You do that. Thanks again, Etienne.

  E: You’re welcome.

  Still grinning, he tossed his phone on the countertop.

  “What are you grinning about?”

  “That was Etienne. When I was at his house earlier, Devin Mitchell took a shot at me.” When her eyes widened, he quickly added, “Don’t worry, that man couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn. Although he managed to shoot Etienne’s historic home. I left Devin with Etienne so his memories could be erased. That was Etienne letting me know the job was done. He’s a little put out because I won’t let him kill Devin for shooting his house.”

  Cassidy stood and jammed her hands on her hips. “Why didn’t you tell me about that right away?”

  “I wanted to be sure Etienne could find and erase Devin’s memories before I said anything. If that hadn’t worked—well, we don’t have to think about that now.”

  “I can see your point, but if you ever do anything like that again, we’ll have a big problem.”

  “I can’t imagine ever having to do anything like that again.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her until she stopped frowning at him. “We have a half-hour before dinner is ready. Would you like to shift and go for a short run?” Grinning, he waited for her response.

  “Really? Don’t you have to watch the beans, so they don’t burn?”

  Still grinning, he shook his head. “Nope.”

  “Hell yeah, I want to go wolfy!” She squealed with glee.

  Chuckling, he followed her outside, but at a much more relaxed pace than her rush to the center of the yard. “Come over here by the dock,” he said, waving her over to a sunny spot near the river. There was a method to his madness in choosing that spot. After she shifted, she’d be able to see her reflection in the water.

  Cassidy grumbled, “What difference does it make?” But in the end, she crossed the yard to where he stood. She stood quietly for a moment before pursing her lips. “Even though I did this once already, I’m still trying to wrap my head around turning into a wolf.”

  He mulled that over in his mind. “I suppose I’d feel the same way if I hadn’t grown up a shifter.”

  Nodding, Cassidy cracked her knuckles, widened her stance, and shook out her arms. “Knowing you were shot at a couple hours ago has my concentration scattered. Can you talk me through it again?”

  “Sure, mon amour. Visualize a wolf in your mind’s eye. What color is the fur covering the entire body? Imagine the beast’s head, the shape of it, the beast’s ears, its eyes. Imagine the wolf’s long legs and strong body. The length and shape of its tail. Now, look at the shape and size of its paws and claws. Imagine you are that wolf. Place yourself inside its body. The wolf’s fur covers your body. You have the beast’s beautiful tail and eyes. Your feet and hands are now the paws of that wolf.

  “Take a deep breath, let it out, and allow the shift to happen naturally. Just let go and allow.”

  Cassidy was a brilliant, talented woman who survived by adapting. Watching with pride filling his heart, he stepped back to let her work it out.

  Nodding, she closed her eyes and began to take slow, deep, relaxing breaths. Her lips moved as if she were silently reciting the steps for visualizing.

  Marcus sucked in a breath. Cassidy’s wolf was stunning. Her coat was a dazzling white, almost platinum. Add to that her vivid blue eyes, and he was speechless.

  Cassidy’s wolf didn’t move. Her ears didn’t twitch. He wasn’t sure she’d even blinked.

  Mon amour?

  Cassidy dropped to her belly and bared her teeth. Her training had obviously kicked in, and she had dropped low to provide a smaller target.

  You startled me when you talked in my mind. Don’t do that, she snarled.

  Sorry, sweetheart, but you were kind of frozen.

  Well, yeah. I just turned into a wolf. It kind of freaked me out.

  He took her face in his hands. “I knew you could do it, mon amour. Would you like to see what you look like? Go to the end of the dock and check out your reflection in the water.”

  Her ears perked. Okay.

  He stroked her soft head before folding his arms to watch her reaction.

  Cassidy padded silently to the very end of the dock and looked down. Holy crap! I’m a wolf! I’m so white. She turned her head and gave him a big wolfy grin, before exploding into action. Wahoo! I’m a freaking wolf!

  In her excitement, she jumped around as if she were doing a happy dance as a human, which would have been fine on dry ground.

  “Be careful—” Before he could finish his warning, she yipped and scrambled to maintain her footing before going over the edge in a large plume of water.

  Marcus laughed so hard he couldn’t breathe. Her wolf growled and sneezed. She shook her head to get the water out of her eyes only to splash more around her face. Dog paddling, she eyed the dock and the shoreline.

  Still laughing, he walked onto the dock and squatted to reach for her. Cassidy paddled toward him, fighting the deceptively lazy current. When she was close enough, he gripped the ruff of her neck and hauled her onto the dock.

  What the hell! I’m not a damn puppy.

  “How else did you expect me to get you out?”

  I don’t know, but if you ever tell anyone you did that, I’ll bite you.

  With that, she did a full body shake, drenching his shirt and pants with bayou water. “Okay, enough of that. It looks like going for a run is out of the question. You stink and need a shower. Shift back so we can go into the house.”

  Cassidy’s wolf closed her eyes, and a moment later, she was a human again in soaking wet clothing. Her nose wrinkled, “What is that smell?” She lifted her arm and sniffed. “Ew! It’s me.”

  “Like I said, you need a shower.”

  While Cassidy stripped off her wet clothes, Marcus changed his shirt and pants. “I have to make the rice for dinner, so take your time.”

  “Good. I think I’ll have to wash my hair at least three times.”

  As soon as he heard the shower running, he ran out to his car and pulled the jeweler’s bag from the glove box where he’d hidden it. Then he ran back into the house. There was so much to do before Cassidy finished her shower.

  He grabbed the bag his mother packed for him. He emptied the contents and began to set the table. He unfolded the tablecloth and smoothed it over the tabletop, making sure there weren’t any wrinkles. Then he put the candle tapers into the candlesticks and placed them in the center of the table. Next, he positioned fine china plates and crystal water glasses where he and Cassidy would sit. After that, he checked the wine glasses for water spots and positioned them next to the water glasses. Finally, he wiped down each piece of silver and made sure they lined up perfectly on either side of the plate.

  Standing back, he gave the table a good hard look. Not bad at all. Grabbing the linen napkins, he rolled them tight enough to slip his and Cassidy’s rings onto them in place of the napkin rings his mother sent in the bag. Then he placed the napkins on top of the plates. Beautiful.

  Now for the rice. He measured the water and put it on to boil. Then he measured out the rice and set it aside. While he waited for the water to heat, he took the lid off of the Instant pot and smiled. It smelled good.

  He dug a wooden spoon out of a drawer and stirred the beans until some of them blended into the broth, thickening the liquid to a delicious brown gravy. Taking a tablespoon from the drawer, he scooped up a bit of the bean mixture and blew on it. Then he gave it a taste. “Mm, not bad.”

  The water started to boil, so he turned the burner off, added the rice, gave it a stir, and placed the lid on the pot.

  Wiping his hands, he went to his wine rack and selected a nice bottle of red. Pulling the cork, he left the wine to breathe.

  That was when he real
ized the shower wasn’t running. In a panic, he lit the candles and was blowing out the match as Cassidy walked down the hallway.

  “Something smells really good.”

  “Thank you.”

  He lifted the lid from the rice, relief flooding him when it was perfectly cooked. Carefully, he spooned the rice onto their plates then stopped dead at the sight of the instant pot. How was he supposed to serve from that?

  “Need some help?” Cassidy asked from beside him, holding out a serving bowl, she’d pulled from his cupboard.

  He felt his face heat. “Thanks.” He ladled the beans into the bowl and carried it to the table where he added a portion to their plates. Something was missing. He glanced around the kitchen and spotted his mother’s bread.

  He glanced at Cassidy, who stood beside the kitchen island, watching him with interest. “Almost ready. Give me one more minute.” He grabbed up the loaf, thankful his mother had cut it for him. He put a few slices on a bread plate and placed it and his butter dish on the table.

  “Voila!” he said with a flourish. Then he pulled her chair out. “Allow me to seat you, milady.”

  “Of course, good sir,” she said, playing along.

  He pushed in her chair and waited.

  Cassidy reached for the napkin and gasped with her fingers hovering over the linen. “Marcus?”

  Going down on one knee, he pulled the ring from the napkin and held it up. “Miss Ryan, will you marry me and be my beloved wife?”

  Cassidy nodded, a tear rolling down her cheek. “Yes, I’d love to be your wife.”

  Marcus slipped the ring on her finger, relieved when it fit perfectly. Apparently, she was part of the fifty percent. Then he pulled her into his arms and kissed his fiancée for the first time.

  “It looks like I’m going to have a busy year,” Cassidy said between kisses. “I have college classes to attend and a wedding to plan. I’m not sure I’ll get it all done.”

  “You can check one item off your to-do list,” he said grabbing the napkin from his plate and showing it to her. “I bought a ring for myself while I was getting yours.”

  “It matches mine!” Cassidy pulled the ring from his napkin and glanced from it to him. “Marcus? How do you feel about Las Vegas weddings?”

  The End

  Please let others know if you enjoyed this title. Please leave a review on the vendor site in which you purchased this title. Reviews help to spread the word and boost overall sales. This means I have more time to write more books in the series you love.

  Thank you!

  V.A. Dold

  Continue reading for an excerpt from

  KRYSTAL

  Krystal

  Le Beau Series

  Book Eleven

  Prologue: The Plan

  Isaac Le Beau tipped his head and narrowed his eyes. Emma, his mate, knew that look. Isaac was thinking and more than likely planning something.

  “Seth wants us to disclose the shifters full history and truth. Do you think you could talk to Luperca about that? If she agrees with him, the gathering would be perfect for the disclosure.”

  Emma cocked a brow. “I could ask her about it if she appears to me. But I can’t give you any guarantees.”

  Isaac threaded his fingers through her hair and pulled her down to him. “That’s all I ask of you, mon amour.”

  After a few minutes, Emma pulled back, breathing heavily. “I have to do my daily meditation. If you keep kissing me like that, I’ll be late.”

  He gave her behind a pat as she rose from his lap. “We can’t have that. I’ll be right here when you’re done.”

  Emma rushed down the hall to her altar room. She closed the door and stepped up to the small altar she’d used for the past few decades. Carefully, she brushed a hand over the altar cloth as she considered what crystal to use. Clear quartz Lemurian crystals seemed to be the ticket today.

  She lit the white candles and pulled the crystals from a shelf where she stored them. Once satisfied, she knelt before the altar. Closing her eyes, she centered her mind and quieted her thoughts. Then she opened herself to her spirit guides and the goddess.

  “Blessed be, my daughter,” Luperca greeted her in her soft, soothing voice.

  “Blessed be, Mother.”

  Luperca tipped her head to the side. “You have questions for me.”

  Emma swallowed, then nodded. “Yes, I do. Seth would like to explain everything to all of the shifters. Is that what you want as well?”

  Luperca sighed. “He is persistent, isn’t he?” She floated across the room, turned, and floated back. “He’s right. It’s time. The human population will know about beings from other planets soon enough. The shifters need to be prepared with full knowledge of their heritage.”

  Emma nodded. “Seth is returning with his mate, and I’m planning a pack gathering in celebration of his retirement and hopefully a wedding. Should we explain everything to them then?”

  Luperca’s transparent image tapped her chin. “No. It’s time I manifest to all. I will come to the gathering and make an appearance after the wedding feast has been eaten. I think it would be best for them to hear the truth from me personally.”

  Emma inclined her head. “Very good.”

  Luperca’s chest rose and fell like she took a deep breath. “Now, you have another question to ask.”

  Emma felt her cheeks warm. “Yes. As long as you are here, I thought I would ask if there is another name for me?”

  Luperca smiled lovingly and cocked her head. “Yes”—she tipped her head to the other side—“and no. I have arranged for Krystal and her mate to meet at the ranch. Everything is in motion, so there’s nothing you need to do. He is the local sheriff of the town she lives in but also a true nonterrestrial.”

  Emma frowned. “A nonterrestrial?”

  “Yes, from another planet. He traveled from his home planet and has adopted a human form to find his mate. As a sixth-density nonterrestrial, he can appear as an energy being, human, or in his animal form. They only just met and as such, will not attend the gathering. I will talk to her personally and explain everything. I have plans for her that include expanding her matchmaking service to nonterrestrial’s.”

  “Really? How—” Emma paused, uncertain how to ask her question. “How will that work?”

  “I will give her the help she needs to set up a national matchmaking service that will pair humans with nonterrestrial’s. Since shifters are technically part of that category, they will be part of the program.”

  “Does her mate know about the plan? It sounds like a massive undertaking for a newly mated couple.”

  “He will leave law enforcement and be her partner in the endeavor.” Luperca smiled. “Fear not. I will ensure she has all the help she needs.”

  “Perfect. Thank you.”

  “I will return to talk with Isaac in a few days to arrange for my appearance. Take care, my daughter. Blessed be.”

  “Take care, Mother. Blessed be.”

  Emma snuffed her candles and rushed back to Isaac. “I have so much news!”

  He caught her up as she leapt into his arms. “What is it, cher?”

  “I spoke with Luperca. She wants to be the one to speak to everyone at the gathering. And, Krystal has found her mate!”

  “Really? Luperca is going to appear in public?”

  “I know, right? I was floored.”

  Isaac shook his head. “Wow. I didn’t see that coming. And Krystal found a mate?”

  “Yes. Luperca said the sheriff in their town in Texas is her mate. The only thing is, she said he is a real nonterrestrial manifesting as a human to find his mate. I’m not sure what implications that will have. But it’s already in the works, so there isn’t anything for us to do.”

  Isaac rubbed his hands together. “Excellent. We get a win without doing the work. I’ll take that.” Then he frowned. “I’m going to find out more about what her mate is. Lucinda already hates anything, not shifter. She's going to have a
cow over this development. I better warn Charles.”

  “I need to get started with the party plans anyway. Why don’t you talk to him while I call Rose?”

  “Deal. I’ll meet you back here in fifteen minutes. I built a fire in the fireplace, and I'll open a nice bottle of wine to celebrate our success.”

  Emma winked as she headed for the door. “In that case, I’ll be back in ten.”

  SERIES

  Le Beau Series

  Book 1 CADE

  Book 2 SIMON

  Book 3 SIMON & ROSE

  Book 4 STEFAN

  Book 5 THOMAS

  Book 6 CADE & ANNA

  Book 7 LUCAS

  Book 8 RICHIE

  Book 9 SETH

  Book 10 MARCUS

  League of Guardians Series

  Book 1 Dangerous Destiny

  Book 2 Etienne

  Book 3 Fangs & Felons

  K.I.S.S Series

  Book 1 First K.I.S.S.

  CADE

  Plus-sized Anna James is finally free of her good for nothing, cheating husband. She’s in no hurry to trust another man anytime soon. Well, except for the hottie who stars nightly as the romantic hero in her dreams. It’s a darn shame he isn’t real.

  Cade Le Beau is a billionaire with a furry secret. But even billions can’t buy happiness. He blew his chance to meet the woman of his dreams six months ago. Dreaming is a fine way to pass the time, but he wants the flesh and blood female.

  When a second opportunity presents itself, it comes with baggage. Anna’s past has come for a visit, and she’s been taken. Racing against the clock, Cade has forty-eight hours to deal with the threat and claim what’s his.

  SIMON

  Desperate to find his mate, Simon Le Beau joined the Marines. No matter how badly he wanted his destined female, she wasn’t going to walk up and knock on his door. Maybe a bit of travel while serving his country would bring him a little luck in love.