WILD MATE
(A BBW BEAR SHIFTER ROMANCE)
MATE series
By
Natalie Kristen
MATE series
ALPHA MATE
BEAR MATE
VAMPIRE MATE
WOLF MATE
WILD MATE
Copyright © 2014 Natalie Kristen
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this ebook with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are used fictitiously or are the products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual locales, events, establishments or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
*****
HE HAS FINALLY FOUND HER...
Accused of murdering the monster who attacked and injured his mate, Levi Madden almost goes insane with grief and rage. When he is freed, he rushes to her bedside, only to stand as a stranger before her.
BUT SHE CANNOT REMEMBER HIM...
Rebecca Rose wakes from her coma and remembers the vicious attack by her ex-husband. She remembers her past, her pain yet she senses that she has forgotten something, someone very important.
She is afraid to trust again, but somehow she trusts that handsome Enforcer sent by the PAC to protect her.
THE HUNT IS ON.
When sinister forces unite against them, can Levi and Rebecca finally find their way back to each other? Will their love conquer all, or will they lose each other forever?
*****
CHAPTER ONE
The police officer opened the door to his cell and hollered, “Levi Madden, you're free to go.”
Levi jumped up as two officers walked in and unlocked the silver handcuffs around his wrists. The silver prevented him from shifting into his bear form while in the custody of the New Moon City Police Department (NMPD). But Levi would never attack the human police officers of New Moon City. He was a senior Enforcer with the Paranormal Affairs Council (PAC) Enforcement Unit. Like the NMPD, he protected the civilian population of New Moon City, but he didn't just go after law breakers and criminals. He hunted dangerous and deadly rogue paranormals.
New Moon City was home to humans and paranormals alike. With vampires, demons, weres, witches, warlocks, all living and working in close proximity, the PAC had its hands full trying to protect and police all the paranormals in the city. The Enforcement Unit was headed by Jett Riley, a human who was in Levi's opinion, tougher and stronger than a lot of paranormals he knew. Levi respected the guy. Jett was a good boss, tough but fair, and Levi had no doubt that Jett had worked tirelessly to secure his release. When Levi was arrested for murder, Jett had rushed down to the police station and railed and ranted at the officers, demanding that they release Levi immediately.
When Jett couldn't get Levi out of the lockup, he had called Dax Ferro, the PAC lawyer. Good call. Now Levi was free to go.
As he walked out of the cell, Levi turned and said to the officers, “I didn't kill Phin Lester. He's still out there. And he's dangerous.”
As the door of the cell slammed shut behind him, one of the officers answered gruffly, “The police are looking for him right now.”
“I can help,” Levi said immediately. “The PAC Enforcers can help you.”
“Phin Lester is not a rogue paranormal. He's human,” the officer answered tersely.
Levi made a sound of frustration. “No. He's...not.”
He saw some raised eyebrows, but he persisted. They had to know how dangerous the man was. “Phin Lester was attacked by a blood demon lord before. Maybe that changed him, somehow, somewhat, but I think that man was already a monster before that. He's a volatile, violent man, an abuser. He killed the nurse on duty and escaped from the psychiatric ward. He's not human. He tried to kill his...wife.” Levi grated out the last word in pain and rage. He could feel his bear rearing up, ready to lash out in fury and he forced his beast down by sheer willpower. Don't shift into bear form now. Now was not the time nor the place to let his bear out.
Wife.
Phin Lester didn't deserve her. And she was not his wife. She was his ex-wife. She was divorcing him. After months of threats and torture, Rebecca had finally picked herself up and plucked up the courage to free herself from his abuse and his clutches once and for all. So he came to kill her.
His whole body tensed and throbbed at the thought of Rebecca. His brave, beautiful Rebecca.
That bastard had beaten her half to death. Levi had been at her house, sitting in her kitchen, just talking. It hadn't been easy getting Rebecca to trust him, and open up to him. She had been wary at first, but very slowly, she had warmed up to him.
Rebecca Rose worked at Club Mate, a blood bar in the city. The blood bars in New Moon City served blood, all kinds of blood—straight from the tap, flavored, alcoholic, enhanced with vitamins or caffeine. Competition was stiff among the blood bars in New Moon City so the bars were always coming up with new and exciting flavors to attract new customers. Some bars had a dance floor, others provided live entertainment. They had singers, shifters, strippers...all kinds of exotic and erotic acts. It was a strictly no biting policy in New Moon City, so the vampires and blood demons frequented the blood bars to get their needs met.
Rebecca Rose was a stripper at Club Mate. That was where Levi had first laid eyes on her. He had been on patrol with Scott, his cousin and fellow senior Enforcer, doing a routine check on Club Mate to make sure that all the licensing regulations were complied with and everyone was behaving themselves at the bar.
He had gone back to Club Mate on his own, after his shift, and waited until she'd knocked off work. He had just wanted to catch a glimpse of her. And make sure she got home safe. It all started with just one look.
One look, one glare which had slowly softened to a curious stare.
A few more nights, and he finally got a smile from her. And a single word—“Hi.” She let him walk her home, and he had trailed silently behind her for the first two nights. Then she had slowed her pace and walked beside him, instead of in front of him. And they'd started talking. And sharing. And he saw her smile more often. She had the most beautiful smile.
Rebecca Rose.
He had finally found her.
His mate.
She had been young and foolish, and had gotten married to a brute too young. She had endured a year of hell as a result of her mistake. It had taken her a year and a day to finally grow up and grow strong.
She was now ready to take the necessary steps to get her life back on track.
But Phin Lester would sooner destroy her than let her go.
Levi's huge hands curled into fists. He would not let that monster get near her ever again. He would protect her. Bears protected their mates, and Rebecca was his mate. He had found his mate after so long, and he would not lose her.
Levi signed the paperwork, and took his mobile phone back. There were messages and missed calls from his lawyer, Dax Ferro, his boss, Jett, his cousins, Blake and Scott Madden and the rest of the PAC members, including the PAC Alpha, Lucas Rieve. Levi didn't reply to the messages. Neither did he return the calls. He would talk to them—later.
Right now, there was only one person he wanted to see, and hold, and talk to. He wanted to see her sweet face, hold her hand, and hear her voice.
He had to get to the hospital pronto. Rebecca was lying
in hospital, barely alive, badly injured and horribly scarred, both physically and emotionally. Phin Lester had escaped from the psychiatric ward and forced his way into her house while Levi was there. Phin had charged in and just started hacking at them with a long knife. Levi hadn't wanted to fight the man. He'd just wanted to protect Rebecca. But Phin had pursued them with a vengeance. He had chased them all the way to the edge of the shore and smashed Rebecca's head in with a rock. Rage and anguish had forced Levi's bear to the fore. Provoked and maddened, the bear would have killed the man with a single blow. But before Levi had the chance to strike, police cars had screeched to the scene. Acting on instinct, the police fired a single shot—at the bear.
Levi had felt a tranquilizer dart stab into his hindquarters, and when he woke up, he was in the lockup, facing assault and murder charges. He had been accused of murdering Phin Lester and viciously assaulting Rebecca Rose. Now Phin was missing, and Rebecca was lying in the hospital in a coma.
It was a miracle he hadn't gone out of his mind with grief and wrath. Instead of being at Rebecca's side, or out hunting that monster, he was forced to pace the cell and rattle the bars like a goddamn criminal. He wasn't a criminal. The real criminal was out there, and Rebecca Rose was still in grave danger.
He had to make up for lost time. And he had lost a lot of time. Time wasted sitting in the goddamn cell when he should have been protecting her, and hunting him.
Levi ran out of the police station and charged across the road. Horns blared and tires screeched, but Levi didn't care. All he cared about was getting to the hospital. He would flatten all these pesky cabs and cars under his foot if he had to.
Nothing would keep him from his Rebecca.
Levi weaved through the midday traffic, ploughed through bewildered pedestrians and charged straight into the hospital lobby. He didn't have to ask for her ward number. He knew instinctively where she was. All his senses pointed him to the corner room on the fourth floor. He didn't wait for the lift. Levi simply pounded up the stairs, taking three at a time, and exploded down the corridor. He saw two Enforcers standing guard outside Rebecca's room. Both Scott and Bryn Ellis jerked visibly when they saw him charging towards them.
“Hey, Levi...” Scott broke into a grin and spread out his arms to embrace his cousin.
Levi grabbed Scott in a fierce hug. Bryn tactfully stepped aside, and Levi gave the petite vampire a quick smile before pushing into the room.
Levi stopped at the door, staring at the heavily bandaged figure on the bed. Levi had to suppress a growl as he walked slowly towards her bed. He wished he had killed Phin Lester. Levi was not a violent man, and he always kept his bear under control. But seeing Rebecca so badly hurt made him want to commit violent murder. He wanted to kill Phin Lester, slowly, make him hurt, make him beg for death.
Rebecca head was swathed in bandages. So were her arms and legs. Her face was swollen, with cuts and bruises covering almost every inch of her face and neck. She was hooked up to a dozen beeping machines, and there was tubes carrying blood and fluids into her veins. Her eyelids were fluttering and jumping rapidly as she made small, mewling noises.
Scott and Bryn had come into the room and were standing quietly behind him. “She's come out of her coma,” Bryn said softly. “The police took her statement. She said Phin Lester attacked her and he fled. And she told them that he would come back to try to kill her again. Jett ordered us to guard her with our lives. He won't be able to come within a mile of her. We'll get him, Levi.”
Levi nodded, his eyes never leaving Rebecca.
“Go to her,” Scott urged. “Let her know you're here.”
As Levi took a step towards the bed, he heard Scott and Bryn exit the room discreetly, leaving him alone with Rebecca. Scarcely able to breathe, Levi kept walking stiffly towards the bed, his fingers trembling as he stretched them out towards her.
He reached her at last, and gingerly caressed her fingertips. “Rebecca,” he whispered. “Rebecca, please, wake up. You're going to be fine, just fine, you hear me. You're so strong and brave, and you're going to have a beautiful life.” With me.
He stroked her hand gently. “Will you open your eyes for me, Rebecca? Will you look at me? Let me see those bright, brilliant eyes, and that beautiful smile of yours. Will you do that, Rebecca?” he continued speaking to her softly, beseechingly.
He held her hand and pressed her palm to his lips. He inhaled a deep, painful breath, breathing in the scent of her pain, her hurt, her blood. “Please wake up,” he whispered. “Please, Rebecca.”
Levi touched her face lightly, and she let out a moan. He drew back with a hiss, cursing himself for causing her pain. Another sound escaped her lips and her throat moved.
Levi gripped her hand, watching her eyelids flutter as she struggled to open her eyes.
“Rebecca! Can you hear me?” Levi's voice was filled with hope and joy. “Can you see me, Rebecca? I'm here! I'm right here with you.”
Rebecca made more incoherent sounds, and finally her eyes opened a crack. She blinked slowly, turning her head in the direction of Levi's voice. But her eyes were still unfocused. Levi swallowed, watching her anxiously. Should he call for a nurse, or the doctor? Did she need anything? Was she in pain?
Rebecca raised a shaking hand to her parched lips. She pointed to her dry lips as she opened and closed her mouth.
“Water?” Levi asked, rushing over to the side table. He grabbed the glass and poured some water from the pitcher.
Rebecca was trying to push herself up, and he hurried to prop some pillows up behind her. When she was finally sitting up, he held the glass of water to her lips. “Here. Drink. Be careful.”
He held the glass carefully, watching her take small sips. Her eyes were still half closed, and she looked dazed and tired. After a few more sips, she shook her head and he put the glass away.
“How do you feel, Rebecca? Any pain? Do you need anything? Do you need the doctor...?”
She raised a hand weakly to stop his torrent of worried questions. A frown was forming on her face. Levi sat down at the side of her bed and smiled encouragingly at her. But she didn't smile back. Instead, her frown deepened.
“You're still in the hospital, but you'll be out soon. You're getting better every day, and in no time, you'll have recovered fully,” he said gently. “Then...I'll take you home.” My home, where you belong, and where you'll be safe.
She was staring at him. Her dark eyes were focused on his face, but there was no relief or happiness in her eyes. In fact, there was no recognition at all in her eyes. She shook her head as she stared at him in confusion.
“Rebecca...” he began, trying to take her hand. But she gasped and pulled away from him.
Her eyes continued searching his face, her puzzlement and apprehension evident in her troubled expression.
“I'm sorry,” she said at last. “But...do I know you?”
CHAPTER TWO
Rebecca stared into those blue eyes, and saw them flash with pain. That big, strong, mountain of a man seemed to crumble inside, even though he remained standing. She saw his huge hands shake as he withdrew them from her.
“I'm really sorry,” she repeated. “But I don't know you. And...what are you doing in my hospital room? Who let you in? Who are you?”
He gaped at her for a long time. “You...you don't remember me?” He managed at last in a strangled voice.
She shook her head.
“You don't know me?” he asked again.
“No. No, I don't. I...” I don't know you from Adam. “Who are you?”
“I...” He swayed on his feet, the pain and hurt so stark on his face.
“Look...” She bit her lip. Her words seemed to hurt him a lot, and she really didn't want to cause him any more pain.
He seemed...nice. He was ruggedly handsome, with short blond hair and intense blue eyes. He was also very tall, and she could make out hard, toned muscles under his t-shirt. He was big and muscled, but he didn't intimidate her.
She didn't feel scared at all in his presence, even though he was a complete stranger to her. And she had woken up to him holding her hand and calling her name.
“Um, how do you know my name?” she asked.
The big man reeled, as if she had just stabbed a knife through his heart. “I...I'm sorry,” she said quickly. She really didn't want to cause him any hurt. He really did seem like a genuinely nice guy.
He swallowed and his lips moved, but he appeared to be struggling to get the words out. Rebecca winced, and tried to think of something to say to ease his discomfort. I'm sorry sounded lame and inadequate. But what else could she say?
“What's your name?” she asked gently. That was a simple enough question, and he would have no trouble answering it. It would break the awkwardness and let him find his voice and his composure, hopefully.
But instead of calming the man down, her innocent question brought him to his knees. Literally.
He dropped to his knees at her bedside, his head dropping to his chest. He forced ragged breaths into his lungs, and it was a long while before he could look at her again.
“My name is Levi Madden,” he answered her in a monotone, but she heard the anguish in his voice. “I'm a werebear and I'm a PAC senior Enforcer.” He pulled out his Enforcer's Badge to show her. “I saw you at Club Mate. I...”
“Wait, wait, wait!” She held up a hand frantically. “You met me at Club Mate? So...” Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. “How do you know my name, my real name? I don't tell anyone my real name at the club. Everyone knows me as Raven Rose at Club Mate.”
Rebecca gulped and her hand fumbled for the buzzer to call the nurse in. How did this stranger know her real name? Did he stalk her? Follow her home secretly? Search through her things?
Wild Mate: BBW Bear Shifter Romance Page 1
