by Ashlee Sinn
“Next time it’s the rest of your body,” she threatened. And then, pulling something out of his hand as he writhed in pain, she turned and walked over to me. Her eyes traveled up and down my naked body in a way that made me smile. “Let’s go home,” she said.
Wrapping my arm over her shoulder, I tossed a glare at the deputy and then led her outside. “Are you sure about this?” I asked just as Brandt and Bo rushed down the driveway in their truck.
“We can’t kill him. Things are different now.”
I felt her shaking beneath me and it took everything in my power not to rush back inside and rip the asshole’s head off his body. But Julia was right. And I would see that once I calmed my bear down.
“Did she abandon you?” I asked her.
“He drugged me,” she said in reply, as though that answered everything.
I let it go. If she didn’t want to talk about her bear right now, then she didn’t have to. So pulling her close to my side, I led her away from the trailer and hoped that whatever she experienced today would be the last of the chaos for a while.
Two days later, my bear returned. She’d stayed hidden for far longer than I’d ever experienced before. And it wasn’t until I pulled into Derrick’s driveway that she finally raised her head. Her mate was inside, and that seemed to be the key to breaking her free from the hole that she’d been buried in.
I had to persuade Derrick to let me drive over here by myself. After the intruder, the protesters, the groupies, and the crazy deputy, he didn’t want to leave my side. But I finally convinced him that a few hours at my house wouldn’t hurt anyone. Besides, Zane was standing guard outside my door the whole time I packed.
Someone knocked on the window of my car, causing my heart to explode and forcing a small scream from my lips. Kenzie jumped back in shock when I turned my glare on her.
“I’m so sorry!” she yelled through the window. “I thought you saw me.”
Opening my door, I stepped out and gave her a smile once my heart rate slowed. “I didn’t see you,” I said.
“Sorry.”
“No worries.” I looked over at her house where Bo was standing on the front porch with a wicked grin plastered on his face. “Is there a reason you’re here?”
She turned her head to glance at Bo and then faced me again with a giant, tooth-filled smile. “I just wanted to give you this,” she said. Holding out a small pouch, she waited for me to take it from her.
“What is it?” I asked.
“It’s a…” she searched for the right word, and I got suspicious. “It’s a housewarming gift.”
“Housewarming?”
“For you and Derrick.”
Shaking my head, I looked at her in confusion. “But this is Derrick’s house.”
She shot another look over her shoulder, only this time to the other side where Derrick now stood. “Yes, it is,” she replied with a suspicious tone. “Hi, Derrick!” Kenzie waved at him, gave me a quick hug, and then jogged back across the street to her property. But before she joined Bo’s side, she called across the lawn, “It worked for me!”
“What is she talking about?” Derrick said, suddenly standing beside me.
I dumped the contents of the pouch into my hand. A necklace. With a small metal pendent. I held it up and gave Derrick a questioning look. He studied the shape, which appeared to be an abstract human-like figure with a large head. Suddenly, something clicked in Derrick’s brain, and his jaw dropped open. His gaze snapped over to Bo and Kenzie, now retreating into their house, and he shook his head. “Unbelievable,” he muttered.
“What? What is it?” I brushed my fingers back and forth over the pendent until Derrick snatched it out of my hands.
“It’s a fertility goddess,” he said as I tried to protest.
“A what?”
Derrick shoved the pendent back inside the velvet pouch and looked across the street at his friends again. “Did she just tell us she’s pregnant?”
“I…” I tried to recall her words. It worked for us. “Holy shit, I think she did.” The grin spread wide on my face until I saw the horror in Derrick’s eyes. Only this time, instead of freaking out at his reaction, I just laughed. “Don’t worry,” I teased. “I have no plans of reproducing any time soon.”
He must have realized what his reaction looked like because he quickly scooped me up into a hug. “No, no. That’s not what I intended to say…”
The words drifted off as I kissed him into silence. “It’s all right. Kenzie’s just being funny.” Although, considering Kenzie’s magical abilities, I did wonder if I’d just touched some kind of charm.
“Well, that’s not funny,” he grumbled, quickly smiling again when he met my gaze. “Especially since I was going to give you this.” Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out a small, red pouch. It wasn’t a jewelry box, and although a tiny tinge of disappointment washed through me, I quickly squashed it down when I saw what was inside.
“A key?”
His smile was contagious. The happiness in his eyes couldn’t be contained. “Will you move in with me, Miss Julia Housten?”
Considering I’d already been making plans in the back of my mind for days now, I was relieved to see his heart in the same place. “I would love to.”
Derrick twirled me around in the air several times, much to the delighted squeals coming out of my mouth. And when he set me back down, he looked at the gift from Kenzie, still sitting in his other hand. “About this…”
“Derrick, we don’t have to—”
“No, we do. I would love to start a family with you, Julia. My bear has wanted to share his den for a long time, but I never found the right person. And if we could run away and hide in the shadows again, I wouldn’t let you leave my bed until this fertility goddess did her job. But I just don’t think—”
“That now is the time?” I filled in.
“Yeah,” he said with a disappointed sigh.
“Derrick, I’m not old fashioned, but I am looking forward to enjoying us first. Let’s go on dates, and vacations, and travel for the ISC for a while. I’d like to graduate and maybe get my MBA. I love you more than anyone in this world, but I just want to be with you right now. Sound good?”
“Sounds amazing,” he said. Looking down at the gift, he shrugged. “So where should we put her?” he asked.
I grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the porch. “Why don’t we hide her under the potpourri bowl for now?”
Derrick’s laugh warmed my heart. And when he picked me up to carry me over the threshold, I kissed his cheek and drowned in his addicting scent. “I love you,” I whispered.
“You have no idea,” he breathed as he welcomed me into his life, his home, and his heart.
Want more of the Callaghan Clan?
Read Brandt and Emma’s story now.
Emma Davis tried to escape her life in Alaska. But when she hears about the death of someone close to her, obligations force her to return to the family she abandoned. The Callaghan bear clan had been her home for years, and Brandt Callaghan her mate. He’d done everything right and had always taken care of her. Yet it was her bear’s restlessness that made her run, and the lack of choice that frightened her human half. But now she’s back, and Brandt is as tempting as ever. Emma suddenly finds it hard to choose between the life she left and the one she’s discovering she always desired.
Brandt Callaghan wants nothing more than to take a break from the pressure of being his father’s oldest son. Yet a family tragedy puts him in the spotlight as the next clan alpha. He thought he’d never be able to face that challenge…until Emma comes back into his life. Her presence gives him the strength he needs to lead the Callaghan clan and the confidence to fight for his mate. But as tension within the clan increases, and Emma’s life is threatened, Brandt is forced to protect what he loves. At any cost.
Read Brennan and Scarlett’s story now.
Brennan Callaghan is tired of suppressing his bear. The animal
inside has been infatuated with finding a mate ever since he set his sights on Scarlett. But Scarlett isn’t a grizzly and Brennan’s human side insists it’s a mating that can’t happen. So when he’s forced to work with the alluring and gorgeous wolf shifter with the emerald green eyes, he finds it increasingly difficult to continue fighting with nature.
Scarlett Kani wears many hats. Caretaker to her alpha uncle, Tik’a pack enforcer, and entrepreneur. She’s convinced she doesn’t need a mate right now despite what her wolf is telling her. Even if there is a masculine, protective, and gorgeous grizzly shifter that keeps finding his way into her life. But when a video is released and their secret lives are threatened to be exposed
Read Bo and McKenzie’s story now.
Bo Callaghan understands his role. As the youngest brother of the clan’s alpha, his womanizing ways and zest for life has helped him live up to those lack of expectations. So when he’s asked to assist the International Shifter Coalition with an important project, it’s no surprise when he fails to deliver. Now Bo must help a mysterious human woman convince the other shifters in Alaska to get on board with the big reveal. But all Bo can focus on are her charming ways, the bright blue eyes, and the raging fire she’s ignited in his bear.
McKenzie Parker is no stranger to shifters. A human with secrets of her own, she’s worked around them her whole life. Yet despite having a white tiger as one of her oldest friends, she is intimidated when she first meets the giant, sexy grizzly shifter with a bad reputation and an addicting smile. McKenzie’s secret skills may help her convince others what they need to do, but her attraction to Bo cannot be explained by magic. Falling hard, she worries about opening her heart and letting in someone in again. Especially someone like Bo Callaghan.
The Vampire Huntress Series
Read more about the Callaghan brothers in Taken and Chosen!
One vampire hunter.
One hidden desire.
One night that will change it all.
Buy the complete series now!
Ot
her Books by Ashlee Sinn
The Vampire Huntress Series
Part One: Chased
Part Two: Seduced
Part Three: Taken
Part Four: Chosen
Series Bundle
The Callaghan Clan Books with Meredith Clarke
Obeying the Bear
Releasing the Bear
Catching the Bear
The Alaska Shifters
Lured by the Bear
Tempted by the Tiger
Caught by the Cougar
Wanted by the Wolf
Desired by the Bear
The Alpha Seductress Series
Coming soon
The Demon Mistress Series
Coming soon
Abo
ut Ashlee Sinn
Ashlee Sinn fancies all creatures of the paranormal persuasion, especially those who like to bite. Her steamy romances tend to feature swoon-worthy heroes and kick-ass heroines. Whether its vampires, shifters, or demons, the women who keep them in line have a special place in her heart. And in her chaotic head.
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