by Kasey Belle
“I understand, but you need to stop now. She has to choose to stay here, and if you mask her feelings, she loses her ability to choose. That’s not fair is it?”
“No, sir. I’ll stop.”
Declan clasped the little boy’s shoulder. “Everything is going to be fine.”
Cathy looked down at Luke, her eyes wide with wonder. “You were doing that?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry if it was unfair.”
She smiled and brushed Jay’s hair off his forehead. “It’s okay. You were just trying to help.”
“Come on, everyone,” Fiona held her hand out for Emma Grace, “You too, Mr. Luke. Let’s let Cathy and Paul talk. He’ll be safe with me, Cathy, I promise. When you are done talking with Paul, come to the kitchen and eat. Then we’ll talk. He’s related to these two,” she pointed her thumbs at Declan and Cade, “so I know he will leave out some of the more important stuff.”
Emma Grace took Luke’s hand before taking her mothers.
Jay took Cathy’s hand. “Please don’t take Luke away, Ms. Cathy. He’s our third. We need him here.”
“Mom?”
Cathy looked at Luke with concern. “Yes?”
“It’ll be okay. I know it will. It’s safe here. I feel it.” He hugged Cathy around the waist. “I heard Grandma Maddie made pancakes. I’ll save you some, so you can take as long as you want talking to Mr. Paul. Come on, Jay, let’s go eat with Emma Grace.”
Chapter 12
Cathy shifted her weight from foot to foot as she stood next to the fireplace. She had not moved from that same spot and didn’t seem to be in a hurry to leave it anytime soon. Paul hated that he scared her. She was afraid, and it gutted him. His job as her mate was to protect her, cherish her, and make her happy. He totally sucked at his job right now.
He held out his hand. “Why don’t you come sit down, kitten.” He hid his smile when she blushed at the endearment. Her expressive eyes held sadness and hope in equal measure. “I promise I won’t bite, unless you ask me to.”
She smirked and rolled her eyes. “I promise I won’t ask.”
Oh, yes you will, kitten, but I am willing to wait.
Cathy moved slowly over to the sofa and sat on the opposite end. She was too far away. He wanted to protest, but didn’t, now wasn’t the time to start acting possessive. He had no right to demand she move closer. Cathy looked towards the door way as if she hoped to catch a glimpse of Luke through the walls. Paul wanted to pull her into his lap and offer her comfort. “Do you want to ask me questions or would you rather I start?”
“Have you always been a werewolf?”
Paul scowled and said, “Shapeshifter.”
Cathy frowned, “You turn from a man to a wolf and back again, correct?”
“Correct,” Paul reluctantly agreed.
“Werewolf.”
“It’s a negative word, kitten. We don’t use it. People associate silver bullets and slaughtering townspeople with werewolves.”
“You don’t do that?”
“Really?” He scoffed. “Have you heard of many mass slaughtering’s by unknown animal lately? No, we don’t go around hurting innocent people. Besides, werewolves and shape-shifters are two different things.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes. Shape-shifters have lived in plain sight among civilized society for thousands of years. You wouldn’t know a shifter unless he changed forms before your eyes. We are just like you. We fall in love, work, raise families, and vote like normal humans.”
“What makes a shape shifter and a werewolf two different things?”
“A werewolf is created, is when a human has been infected with a therienthrope virus. Werewolves spend most of their time in wolf form. They only shift to human form long enough to keep the virus under control and maintain the ability to shift. Shifts are often uncontrollable and unpredictable.”
“Are they effected by the moon? Do they howl at it, like in the movies?” A sexy as sin blush adorned her cheeks. It made him want to pull her into his arms and kiss her.
“Yes. However, unlike the movies, their shifts are not controlled by the full moon. Full moons give them strength and often makes their actions more unpredictable. During a full moon, they invulnerable to attack. A werewolf is at his most vulnerable during a lunar eclipse. Eclipses are like werewolf kryptonite; it makes them weak.”
“How were you created?”
“Well, when mommies and daddies love each other-”
She kicked at him playfully and giggled. “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
He snickered. “I know, but I made you laugh.”
Cathy peered up at him shyly from beneath her lashes. “You did.”
He felt her fear dissipate and he couldn’t resist the urge to touch her. He wrapped a hand around her ankle and used his thumb to make little circles around her bone. He heard her breath catch and her heart beat faster. She was as effected by his touch as he was by hers. He intended for the action to sooth his wolf, as well as his mate, and it did. However, it also succeeded in arousing them both. He was hard as steel and he could smell her tantalizing scent. Paul tried to adjust his hard, aching cock surreptitiously so Cathy wouldn’t notice his predicament. He knew he failed when her gaze latched onto his crotch. She blushed red from cheeks to chest. He fought for control when she had unconsciously licked her lips.
His wolf wanted to take her, here and now. He fought his beast. A misstep would lose her forever. She wasn’t ready for anything more. He thanked the fates she allowed him touch her at all.
Paul cleared his throat. “The original wolf shape-shifters were created when a werewolf mated with a human. The werewolf’s Lycanthrope gene passed to the offspring creating the first shifter.”
“So werewolves are created?”
“Yes.”
“Shifters are born?”
“Usually, yes. When cubs are conceived, the mutated gene caused by the virus, passes genetically from the mother to the child. Regardless, of whether both the mates are shifters or only one. All shifters are part human; somewhere in their lineage is a human ancestor. Just as the Lycanthrope gene is passed on so is the human gene. It passes from generation to generation. Even though my parents are shifters, my grandmother, on my father’s side, was human. However, it wouldn’t have mattered, it could have been generations ago. It still would have passed to me.”
“What does usually mean? Shifters are usually born.”
“Shifters can also be created, under certain circumstances. I’m not going to tell you how, because it’s rarely done. We can talk about that later. It’s not pretty. Don’t ask how, I won’t tell you, not yet anyway.”
“Fine, I will expect an answer though, eventually. What happens if a werewolf mates with another werewolf?”
“The Lycan gene remains pure and you get another werewolf. A lycan mated to another lycan, is rare. There aren’t that many pure bloods around, nowadays. Most likely, because they can’t blend into normal society, like we can. As you can see, shifters spend most of their time in human form.”
“Does the moon affect you like it does a werewolf?”
“It does have an effect, but it’s not as extreme.”
“What does that mean?”
“During an eclipse, we require more sleep and don’t have as much energy.”
“And during a full moon?”
This was going to be interesting. Paul prepared himself for his mate to pull away from him. “We have a kinship with the moon and while we do feel the need to shift during a full moon, we don’t have to. During a full moon we have ten times the energy, strength, and appetite, for everything.”
She frowned and wrinkled up her cute little nose. “So you’re hungry all the time?”
Hungry for you, mate. “Not just for food. Shifters are sexual creatures by nature and during a full moon, we are hornier than normal.”
“Oh.” Cathy’s chest and face reddened, again. She was so goddamned adorable.
She was a contradiction, fiery and sassy one minute, shy and withdrawn the next. Cathy was also an intriguing mix between natural innocence and the sensual vixen, he could see lurking behind her guarded eyes. Paul couldn’t wait to tap into that side of her personality and explore it with her.
“You don’t have to worry about that though, we are in complete balance with our beast, two halves of a whole. Our human side controls our shifts and our actions. Any shifter who tells you otherwise is making excuses for themselves and their behavior.”
“Thank you for telling me that, I was worried.”
“I know. I could scent it.”
He chuckled when she lifted her arm to smell herself. “I don’t smell anything, except soap and fabric softener.”
“Every emotion has a scent. Fear, anger, worry, happiness…. need.”
Cathy put her palms on her cheeks, like she could stop them from turning red. “I think you say stuff like that to make me blush.”
“You’re right, I do.”
She looked as shocked as he was that he admitted that out loud. Might as well roll with it. He shrugged and admitted, “I like your blush. I think it’s very pretty, like you.”
“You don’t have to say that, I’m not pretty.”
“The hell you aren’t. You are an extremely beautiful woman, and whoever told you different is a liar. I assume it was your piece of shit ex-husband. Say that about yourself again and I will turn you over my knee.” His wolf snarled.
Cathy jerked her foot away and scooted, as far away, as the arm of the sofa would allow.
Motherfucker! He felt like an asshole when her lower lip quivered. He didn’t mean to yell at her, but his wolf got away from him. Furry bastard. Paul couldn’t stand not touching her for another second. He reached over, plucked her from her seat, and set her on his lap. “Don’t cry, mate. I didn’t mean to scare you. My wolf got away from me, not that he would hurt you. He hates it as much as I do when you talk like that about yourself. I am afraid he doesn’t handle it as well as I do.”
“Why did you call me that?”
“I told you, because you are beautiful.”
“No, why did you call me, mate?”
His wolf mentally Gibb’s slapped him. “Yes, it’s all my fault. You can’t blame this one on me. I’m not the only one with control issues, today, human.”
“Paul?”
Paul moved Cathy from his lapped and stood. He had to think, damage control was in order here. He couldn’t believe he blurted that out. He began to pace. He always thought better when he was moving. He let out a self-deprecating laugh and shook his head. He was betting a thousand today. Damn, he had this whole event planned out in his head. He was going to let her get to know him, then she would see he could never hurt her or Luke.
He wanted to take her out to a nice dinner. Afterwards, they would go back to his home, there would be candles, maybe some wine, and a fire. He would tell her she was his mate and that he would love, cherish, and protect her forever. He needed her to believe that he would never lay a hand on her or Luke in anger. He knew, what he had to tell her next, would be harder for her to accept than his shifter status or their fated matedom. He didn’t want her running from him when she found out he was a Dominant. He wanted to smack her ass every time she spoke badly of her herself. He wanted to tie her to his bed and do deliciously wicked things to her body.
“You’re a Dominant?”
Her whispered question brought his rambling thoughts, to a crashing halt. He turned to look at her. How did she know what he was thinking?
“You said all that out loud.”
He dropped his head and sighed. He sucked so bad.
He moved slowly around the coffee table. Cathy pulled her legs up and wrapped her arms around them. She looked at him with trepidation and he hated it.
He sat down across from her careful not to touch her. She was afraid and wouldn’t welcome his touch. “This is ridiculous. I’m wondering if I could have screwed this up any more? I doubt it.” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Yes I am a Dominant, in fact, I am a trained Master. Please know, kitten, I would never hurt you. I need to be in charge in the bedroom, playroom, and any other area of the house that involves your pleasure.”
Cathy began to shake her head in denial. “I can’t go back to that, Paul. Bud was a Dom and I can’t.”
“He wasn’t a Dom; he was a violent bully. A real Dominant does not abuse those in his or her care. A true D/s relationship is safe, sane, consensual. I am not asking you to make a decision now regarding BDSM or accepting me as your mate. All I am asking is that you get to know me and let me earn your trust.”
“This mate thing, um, I have an idea of what it means, but what does it mean to you?”
“You are my other half. The one the Fates have chosen for me as my forever. You are my heart, my soul, and my love. You, kitten, are everything. As your mate, I will love you, protect you, cherish you, and you will want for nothing. I will love and raise Luke as my own. Should we be blessed with other cubs, I would love and cherish each one of them. For me there will be no other whether you accept the mating or not. I have found you. My heart and body will not accept any substitutes.”
“What if I can’t accept you?”
“I won’t like it, but I will accept your answer. However, I will never stop trying to change your mind. It could get stalkerish.”
She smirked at his attempt to lighten the mood. “I don’t know. I can’t be what you need.”
“The Fates would not have chosen you, if that were the case.”
“I can’t be restrained.”
“O-kay?”
“You said you wanted to tie me to your bed.” Cathy hid her face in embarrassment.
“I did?”
She nodded.
“I didn’t realize I said that out loud, as well.”
“I told you, you said it all out loud.”
“So you did.”
“I heard, there was supposed to be a nice dinner, candles, maybe some wine, and a fire.”
The little brat was teasing him. “There was and if you’re a good girl it still might happen.”
She grinned.
“I would like to tie you up, but if it was something you couldn’t handle, then we won’t do that. Safe, sane, consensual. It is a tenet, members of the BDSM community live by. Real Dominants and submissives, Masters and slaves, Sadists and masochists, not abusive posers like your ex.”
“I-”
Paul laid a gentle hand on her knee. “No decisions today, mate. Think on it. Talk to Fiona and the other women. They can answer questions I can’t, especially Fee and Shelly since they are both human. But, know this, it will be just the two of us. Our relationship won’t be like Fiona’s, my parents, or the other ménages. It will only be us, there won’t be a third.”
Shelly gasped. “Third? Jay said Luke was their third? Does that mean…?”
“Yes, kitten it does. Jay, Luke, and Emma Grace will one day become a bonded triad. Jay and Luke will be partners with Emma Grace as their mate between them. Jay and Luke will be her best friends, her confidants, her protectors, and her biggest supporters. They will not claim her without her consent and our blessing. It’s not something you need to worry about right now. Sex under eighteen is forbidden that includes mates. Even though, only mates can create offspring, not random couplings, it is forbidden by Alpha dictate. Matings aren’t allowed until all mates involved turn twenty-one. There are some exceptions, of course. The decisions, regarding those exceptions, are left up to the mates’ parents and the alpha. Like I said, it’s not even a concern right now, I promise you. It may not seem like it to you, but what has happened is a blessing. Some shifters never find their mate. Those three finding each other, at such a young age, means they will never know that type of loneliness. They will be the best of friends, even after they officially mate. Matings are sacred.”
“Who is the alpha?”
“Declan is pack Alph
a and Cade is his Beta. Do you know what that means?”
“Yeah, I know. Declan rules the pack, and Cade is like his right hand.”
“That’s right. How did you know that?”
Cathy tilted her chin in a haughty manner, “I read. Thank you, very much.”
“You and Fiona will get along great. She likes shifter sex books, too. But don’t believe everything you read, kitten. Paranormal erotic romance is not, what I would call, an encyclopedia of accurate shifter knowledge.” He laughed. Paul meant what he said. He truly did love to tease her until the blush, he loved so much, made an appearance.
“You’re bad.”
“Only with you.” He stood and held out his hand. “Come on. Let’s go eat. Maddie’s pancakes are to die for.”
He breathed a sigh of relief when she took his hand.
“Will you show me your wolf, sometime?”
“This is better than we could have hoped. She wants to meet me!”
Paul’s hands went to the buttons on his shirt. Cathy backed away. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to show you my wolf, like you asked, mate.” Paul purposefully misunderstood her. He continued to unbutton his shirt.
“No, you are taking off your clothes.”
“I can’t shift with my clothes on, kitten. Well, I can, but I would ruin them. I don’t have any extra clothes over here, so…”
She held her hands out and walked backwards towards the doorway. “I’ll go to the kitchen. I’m sure Luke would like to see your wolf, too. Uh, I- I’m just gonna go.”
He snickered when she rushed from the room. She was entirely too easy to fluster. Life with her would never be boring. Paul called on his wolf and within seconds he stood on four paws instead of two legs.
****
Cathy kept an eye on the door as she fixed a plate for herself. She wasn’t exactly afraid of the big bad wolf. She shook her head and snickered. I guess that makes me, Little Redheaded Riding Hood. Cathy’s mouth dropped open in shock when a large, menacing wolf with brown-black fur trotted into the kitchen.
