by KD Jones
“If you want continued financial support from this council, we can and will aid you in the decision. You are the last in your father’s line. How could you not want to preserve his rich lineage?”
Guilt ate at Ric. “I just haven’t found the one. My true mate.” He’d bedded many females over the centuries, but none had ever appealed to his wolf.
“Sometimes we have to sacrifice what our heart wants for what our people need,” Councilman Reynolds said.
Ric was pissed. Hadn’t he been doing that for almost five hundred years now? He’d put everything he had into protecting the pack. He served in the human military from time to time to keep up with fighting techniques and weaponry, but he always returned to his pack to support them.
He helped each member find jobs so that they weren’t completely dependent on the financial support of the council, which was more headache than help. The council had been the ones to purchase the property they built their new pack house on; without their backing it would have taken a lot longer to get the funds needed. Which meant that he owed the council. He didn’t want his pack to be kicked out of their home.
Ric sighed, “What would you have me do?”
“We have found a few qualified female werewolves that are willing to mate you.”
“I am not mating three females.” Bedding three females for a night of fun was one thing. To be mated to three of them; all demanding his attention and constantly fighting with one another, would be a living hell. Werewolves were naturally territorial and didn’t want to share. It was their human side that had to soften the wolf’s control.
“Of course not. We will send a female each week to you so that you can spend time with them individually, and then pick one of them for your mate.”
“What if none of them are acceptable to my wolf? Mating one my wolf doesn’t accept is dangerous.”
“You don’t have to date only those three. You can date any female werewolf as long as you agree to date the ones we have selected for you as well. You have a month to find a mate.”
“How am I supposed to know who to pick?”
“Your wolf will let you know which one he will accept or tolerate. It doesn’t have to be a love match.”
“But she won’t be my true mate.” The thought of having waited all these centuries for his true mate only to settle for someone else made him feel sick to his stomach.
“Before your father was killed in battle he asked the council to allow you to pick your own mate. We gave you plenty of time. Either pick a mate or give up your position as alpha of the Strange Lake Falls pack.”
He was born an alpha, but he had to prove his ability to lead a pack. He could be challenged over the pack, but in this case the council would just withdraw funding for his pack leaving them strained financially. “Fine. When should I expect them?”
“I’ll call you as soon as I have the travel arrangements made.”
Ric didn’t say goodbye. He hung up the phone barely resisting smashing it against the wall like he wanted to do. Fucking perfect. He was being forced to take a mate, some female that he was not in love with.
“Alpha is something wrong?” A timid female’s voice called out by the front door. He glanced over and saw the newest member of his pack, Samantha, standing there looking at him warily. She’d joined the pack a few months ago after they moved to Strange Lake falls from Canada. She’d been changed from human to wolf against her will by a rogue wolf.
“I’m fine Samantha. Did you need something?”
“I was just stopping by to see Kate and Liv.”
“They’re up in their rooms I think.”
She started to pass by him, but stopped to look back at him. “I overheard some of your phone conversation. I didn’t mean to, but I was standing by the door while you were talking. It doesn’t seem fair that the werewolf council is forcing you to mate with someone you don’t know. Will they force me to mate as well?”
“They aren’t forcing me physically, but they’re right, it’s been a long time, and I should probably take a mate. As a female werewolf you are considered precious, but you’re a turned wolf. The council is putting pressure on those of us who are pure bloods. We are very few in number and there is concern about losing our lineage.”
“Why can’t you guys just change some human women, willing ones of course, into werewolves?” Samantha asked.
He shook his head. “Only about forty percent of human females could survive the change. It’s deemed too risky for the female’s safety, and there’s a good chance that other humans would find out if the female didn’t make it and riot.”
“What about men?”
“Human males have a better survival rate, seventy percent, but it’s still frowned on to turn a human.”
“So, I could have died.”
“Yes.” He nodded. He would always tell his pack members the truth. Samantha needed to know just how special she was.
“I hope that you’re able to find your true mate. Maybe she will be one of the three the council is sending.”
“Maybe.” But Ric doubted it very much. “I’ll be back later. I’m going to take a run.”
Samantha blushed. “Okay.”
Ric could tell that Samantha was still embarrassed over the first time she’d gotten to run with the pack. She couldn’t look him directly in the eyes. She was born a human and still had hang ups about nakedness. He knew in time she would eventually outgrow that.
***
Ric let his wolf take over as he raced over the grassy terrain. He knew where he was going. It was the same place he went almost every night.
The wind blew a cool breeze through his fur. It brought with it the delicious scent of woman and pasta. He moved closer to the one story ranch style house. The scent belonged to the human friend of Samantha’s mother Jackie, Mary.
Mary was strong-willed, strong minded, and the one woman he couldn’t shake from his system. She was in her forties and she had a grown son that had just finished graduate school. She was also a widower and from the stories he’d heard, she’d had a happy and loving marriage.
He could hear her from outside. Her voice was so sweet. She was on the phone leaving a voice mail message for her son Connor. It didn’t sound like he was home yet. He lifted his nose and scented the air. Then again, maybe he was.
Chapter 3
Mary walked through her the dark hallway of her quiet home. It hadn’t been the same since Connor went off to college. It was just her in this big old house. Maybe she should sell it and move into an apartment or condo closer to town, but then she wouldn’t be within walking distance of Jackie. She and Jackie had been best friends for as long as she could remember. They were practically inseparable, and she loved living close to her.
Besides, Mary hadd lost her job in town, and now she lived off the life insurance money and investment returns that her husband had left for her and Connor. She’d also begun writing. It was something she had dabbled with while Connor was in school. She would write little short stories and read them to Connor at bedtime. She never tried to publish anything until now.
She stopped in the foyer to put her keys in the bowl and her purse on the cabinet. She picked up a picture of her husband Christopher and wiped a speck of dust off the picture frame. “I miss you honey. You left a hole in my life that hasn’t been filled and I don’t know if it ever will.”
She put the picture frame back on its resting place and walked further into her home. She and Christopher had done some home remodeling about ten years ago and she loved what they’d done. In the family room the whole back side was lined with windows. She could see for miles on a clear day.
On the left side of the house was her dream kitchen and further back were three bedrooms. The master suite was on the opposite side of the house and it had also received updates. In the master bathroom, French doors now led out onto the back patio.
They’d always hoped to have more children so they picked a house that they could grow
into. Unfortunately she had complications when she delivered Connor that made it difficult for her to get pregnant again, and they didn’t have the money for medical assistance. Then without warning Christopher was diagnosed with cancer.
Connor was a blessing that they both appreciated. And Christopher was a loyal husband and a wonderful father. She sat down on her sofa and kicked off her heels. God she really missed him.
She’d known Christopher almost all her life. They’d grown up together; she, Christopher, Jackie and Jackie’s ex-husband were all friends, but Jackie and her ex were a year older than Mary and Christopher. She didn’t start dating him until the summer before their senior year in high school. He’d been going out with Janey Pond, but broke up with her at the end of junior year. That summer he started coming by Mary’s family farm spending time with her. By the time senior year started they’d become a real couple.
Their relationship hadn’t been perfect. She had always felt like he was still in love with Janey, but midway through the school year, Mary got pregnant. Christopher did the right thing and married her, but it was Mary who took the brunt of the judgment for their actions. She didn’t even get to go to graduation because she was showing and the other parents didn’t want her to be a bad influence.
They’d loved each other and made a good life and a good home for Connor, but sometimes she wondered if she hadn’t gotten pregnant, would they have stayed together? Would they still have married? She couldn’t shake that feeling of being second best, being the one Christopher settled for.
Picking up the phone, she tried calling Connor but he didn’t answer. She left him a voice message. Then she reached over to the end table for her iPad, and messaged him. “When will your plane arrive?”
A few minutes later Connor sent back. “Soon. What are you doing?”
“Sitting around the house just relaxing.” She put her feet up on the coffee table.
“Written any more books lately?”
“I just finished one that I will self-publish next month.” She looked out the window. For a moment she thought she saw something moving, but when everything was still, she shook her head and went back to texting Connor.
“What’s it about?”
“A vampire who falls in love with a werewolf.”
“I think it’s great that you finally found something to do with your time that makes you happy. It will keep you busy while I am doing my graduate thesis work in South America.”
She was so proud of Connor. He was taking a year of overseas work before he settled down in a full-time teaching position. He could get a teaching job anywhere in the world. She hoped he came back to Strange Lake Falls permanently. “When do you leave for your trip?”
“Mom, it’s not a vacation. I’m doing a work study in several third world areas. I will have to fly out in a couple of weeks to meet up with my director for the work study program.”
She was really nervous about him going so far away. “You promise you’ll be careful?”
“Of course.”
“A couple of weeks won’t leave us much time to spend together. You’ll be spending some of your time with Samantha and your other friends. I will hardly see you.”
“Well then I guess you better open up the door so we can start our visit early.”
“What?” She kept hold of the iPad as she leapt up from the couch and ran to the door. She unlocked it and opened it up wide. There on her front stoop was her beautiful boy, all grown up. “You’re here.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, so you can put the iPad up now.”
Mary turned off her iPad and gave Connor a big hug. He was much taller than her now, and stronger, with a swimmer’s build. Well, Mary was short so everyone was taller than her.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming in early?”
“I wanted it to be a surprise.” He bent to pick up his duffel bag before following her into the house.
“Oh honey I have missed you so much. I’m glad you are home. Are you hungry?”
“I missed you too mom. It’s good to be back, and I had a sandwich on the plane.”
Mary snorted. “That’s nothing. Let me make you something.”
“You don’t have to. I was just going to take a shower and change.”
“You go do that and I will fry chicken legs for you.”
“Mmm…that sounds good.” He kissed her on the cheek. “I love you Mom.”
She patted his cheek. “I love you too baby. Now go shower.” She motioned for him to leave the kitchen.
She heard her phone beep, and picking it up she noticed that she had a missed call. She pressed the voicemail and listened.
“Hi Mary, it’s Reverend Walker. I wanted to call and apologize for my wife’s behavior toward you. Someone else had interpreted you and me spending extra time together at the church the wrong way. Once I explained to Judy that we were only spending time together to plan her surprise birthday party, she calmed down. I showed her all the plans we had made and she tweaked it a bit. I talked with her about her attitude and name calling towards you and how inappropriate, especially for a reverend’s wife, it was to behave that way. I explained that I felt no attraction what-so-ever toward you, and she accepted that nothing is going on between us. I apologize for any hurt feelings and I want you to know that you are again welcome to return to our church as a patron. However I will not need any more of your assistance planning the party and your volunteer work at the church is no longer needed. Hope to see you and Connor at the next service.” The call ended after that.
Mary calmly deleted the message, placed her phone on the counter and went to the French doors that led outside to the deck. Once she was outside she let out a scream and a few choice words, before she brushed away a stray tear. Her hurt quickly turned into anger.
“Son of bitch! You think that was an apology? You think I want to go to your uppity church? Screw you and the horse you’re married too!” She took a couple deep breaths and turned to head back inside. She wasn’t going to let some idiot and his jealous wife ruin her night with Connor.
***
Ric stood in the shadows twenty feet away. Just close enough to take in Mary’s sweet scent and to hear her angelic voice, without being detected. Something or someone had clearly pissed the little human off. He’d never heard her curse at anyone besides him before. He seemed to push her buttons and she couldn’t find a civil word for him when they were near each other, but to everyone else she was an angel. He didn’t mind. Truth was she was smoking hot when she was riled up. He sometimes pushed her buttons just to see her eyes spark at him.
But this? He hated to see her upset like this. Whoever it was that caused her such anguish, would pay for it when he found out their name.
He walked around the perimeter of her place ensuring that there were no predators close by. He could hear her and her son talking and laughing. It made him feel a little envious. His father died a couple hundred years ago. His mother was still alive but she hadn’t taken another mate. She currently lived with his younger brother Will who was Alpha of the North East Alaskan Werewolf pack. It had been a while since he had seen them. He’d been on his own with his own pack for so long, he forgot what it was like to have a real family, but listening to Mary and her son brought back those memories. He needed to call his mother to see how she was doing.
Once he knew the perimeter was clear, his wolf settled down on the ground underneath Mary’s bedroom window. He would stay a little longer, until he was sure there was no danger. It wasn’t rational for him to feel like this. His human side knew it was crazy, but his wolf side refused to leave Mary while she was vulnerable. He’d learned a long, long time ago to always listen to his wolf.
He remembered the day his father had been killed in battle. He was fighting alongside of him. He saw a group of retreating soldiers and followed them leaving his father to fight alone. His wolf kept telling him to go back, that there was danger, but he ignored his wolf and ran right into a trap. He
fell into a hole that had been camouflaged with brush, and broke his leg. He would have healed by shifting to wolf, but the soldiers that ambushed him were human and they came to torture him. He survived it but his father had suffered a fatal injury and died.
His wolf was telling him to claim the human, Mary. Her scent drove them crazy with need to mark her, fuck her, and plant his seed deep inside of her. The wolf in him was pushing him to act and he did not know how much longer he could resist.
***
The next morning Ric came home right as the sun rose. He shifted back to his human form and walked into the pack house completely naked. No one else was up yet so he hurried down the hallway to his bedroom. He took a quick shower before he laid down on his bed for a little nap. Guarding Mary’s house all night took a lot of energy out of him. He noticed that his cell phone had a message on it. He hit the play button to retrieve the message.
A timid unfamiliar female voice came on the line. “H … hi. This is Victoria Johnson. Councilman Reynolds said that you would be expecting my call. I just arrived in town this morning. It took me a while to find a place to stay. I just wanted you to know that I will be at the pack house by six this evening. Okay … bye.”
Shit. He forgot about his date. The female sounded nervous. Nothing against the Alpha female, she sounded nice enough, but he couldn’t get past one slightly older, beautiful, human female that thinks he is a jerk because he acts like one whenever she is around.
He closed his eyes and pictured Mary next to him. Her long blond hair spread out over his pillows, her pretty blue eyes sparkling with mischief as they stared into his eyes. Her laughter that was silky and sultry would wash over his whole body lighting it up. She was older in human years, but those laugh lines only made her beautiful to him. And her scent…her scent drove him and his wolf crazy with lust. It was one of the reasons he kept his distance whenever he visited her house in wolf form, which was more often than he was willing to admit. He was obsessed with her.
