DeeDee was kind and sweet and loyal. She loved embroidery and made snarky remarks and got all his stupid jokes. Regret made his werewolf heart ache even more, if that were possible. He’d been wrong about her, so wrong. And now he’d blown any chance he’d had of making her his forever.
Huffing, he rolled onto his back and stared up at the stars through the bare branches of the Promising Tree. If only he’d realized what an amazing bond they’d shared. If only he’d opened himself up to her and let her inside. If only…
Each time Caine closed his eyes, he felt their connection pulsing strongly inside him. Her thoughts were his thoughts now, and vice versa. Her emotions too flowed through their connection. Nothing would change that, he knew, even though she wanted nothing to do with him. So he’d live the rest of his life with the woman he loved more than life itself in his head and in his heart, even as she moved on and found a new mate. And that would most likely kill him. Just the thought of another man, another wolf, touching her, holding her, making her laugh and cry and love, made him want to tear something limb from limb.
Mainly himself, for being such an idiot.
As if conjured from his imagination, soft footfalls vibrated through the ground beneath him, and Caine rolled over to see another werewolf approaching through the trees, a female, more beautiful than any wolf he’d ever seen.
DeeDee.
Mine.
His wolf stood at attention, ears perked and eyes watchful as she stood before him in her wolf form. Man, she was gorgeous—all tawny auburn fur and sparkling whiskey-colored eyes. Flecks of gold streaked her mane, and a spark of anger still lit her gaze.
Wolf Caine lowered his head and sent her his thoughts telepathically. “I was afraid you wouldn’t come.”
At first she didn’t respond, and Caine started to worry that perhaps she couldn’t read his thoughts after all. Then she pawed at the snow, the edges of her muzzle twitching slightly with tension as she telegraphed her thoughts to him and confirmed that yes, she was his true, bonded soul mate. “I almost didn’t.”
Through their connection, her apprehension and anger throbbed. She was still mad at him for lying. Understandable. But by some miracle, Caine had been given another chance, another shot to redeem himself, and he wasn’t about to blow things again. He hesitantly stepped toward DeeDee, his tail down and his gaze still lowered, showing both his remorse and his lack of aggression. “Please. Let me explain.”
Tense moments passed as she watched him. Then, finally, she tilted her head to the side and started around toward the more private back area of the Promising Tree, her thoughts giving him little ground. “Start talking.”
“I NEVER MEANT to hurt you, DeeDee.” His jumbled thoughts conveyed his obvious discomfort, and it nearly had her forgiving Caine on the spot. But she kept her reserve, wanting to make him suffer a bit longer. After all, he’d had her on pins and needles for weeks—literally, given his secret identity in the embroidery chat room. “I wanted to tell you the truth from the beginning, but I was scared. I’ve been through a lot in my past and had my heart trampled. I realize that’s no excuse for not being up front with you, but perhaps you can find it within yourself to forgive me.”
She exhaled slowly, staring out across the snowy landscape. She’d run all the way here from her house, hoping to burn off some of the excess energy boiling inside her. No luck. Her system was still flooded with emotions and adrenaline, making her jumpy. Not to mention the fact she still couldn’t get that letter Carletta had shown her off her mind. Caine had given her an out, even back then. He never would’ve forced her into a loveless marriage. That counted for a lot in her book, though lingering hurt still ached in her chest. “I wish you’d at least given me a chance,” she said to him through her thoughts, “instead of lumping me in with all those other women from your past.”
He gave a short snort, shaking himself all over, his thick tawny-blond fur shimmering beneath the full moon’s light. “Correction. A woman. Brenda. That’s it. My playboy reputation is exaggerated.” He hung his head again. “And you’re right. I should have given you an opportunity to make the decision on your own. It’s just that people always have these preconceived ideas about me based on my family and my standing in my pack. When I saw you that first day, sitting with your friends at the juice bar, laughing and carefree, I assumed you’d be the same.”
“Wait.” She stilled. “You remember me from that day at the juice bar?”
“Of course.” His amber eyes met hers, the spark of heat in them sending a shiver of warmth through her. “I remember every single time I’ve seen you, DeeDee. Not to mention all our conversations in the chat room. Those were my favorite.”
Mine too.
She swallowed hard against the constriction blocking her throat and batted around a pinecone with her paw. “We did have some good conversations.”
“Yes, we did. No one makes a French knot like you.”
The edges of DeeDee’s muzzle twitched up into the equivalent of a wolfish smile. “Not tonight, I don’t. Since our argument, I haven’t been able to even get a simple straight stitch right. Had to rip out a whole section tonight and start over again.”
“No,” he said, looking up at her, hope in his gaze. “Your work’s always impeccable.”
She stepped a tad closer to him. “That day, at your house, I was in awe of those framed pieces on your walls. If I’m the queen of cross-stitch, then you are definitely the king of embroidery.”
“That’s sweet of you to say.” He inched closer still. “You don’t think it’s unmanly for me to continue my hobby?”
“With your skill? No way.” She nosed the pinecone she’d been playing with his way, going down on her front legs with her rump in the air, encouraging him to play. “I think it shows an immense amount of patience and attention to detail. Not to mention creativity. Besides, who cares what your hobbies are if they don’t hurt anyone else and you enjoy them?”
“Yeah?” He batted the pinecone with his paw, sending it skittering across the top of the snow. Caine glanced at her, that playful glint back in his gorgeous amber eyes.
“Oh yeah.” She took off for their toy at the same time he did, and they ended up tumbling together through the snow, each wolf grappling for the pinecone, giving gentle nips and swats at the other.
At last, panting and tired, they stopped the chase and returned to the Promising Tree. Both lay down beneath the tall pine, their front paws touching and their muzzles inches away from each other.
For DeeDee, there was no question Caine was her soul mate, her one true love.
“I really am sorry,” he said telepathically at last. “Do you think you can forgive me?”
She watched him, wanting to tell him yes but having too much fun toying with her new mate to let him off the hook so easily. “Maybe. If you promise to show me how you get that amazing shading in your embroidery.”
Caine looked surprised before he hid it behind a mask of cool. “I can’t give away all my secrets.”
“You better, mate,” she replied. “No more secrets between us. Period.”
Slowly, he crept forward on his belly, until his furry face nuzzled hers, all his love and care and affection flooding through their connection to fill her heart to bursting.
Caine snuffled into her ear. “Did you just call me your mate?”
“I did.” She nipped at the side of his muzzle then licked the spot tenderly. “If you still want me.”
“If I still want you?” Caine pushed to his feet then rose on his back legs, claws slashing as he carved deep grooves into the bark of the Promising Tree. “DeeDee Clawson, will you marry me?”
Eyes stinging with tears, she rose on wobbly legs and placed her claw marks across his, sealing their hearts and their fates together. “Yes, Caine Hunter MacPherson. I will.”
EPILOGUE
T hree Days Later…
“So if you want this section here slightly darker than the part next to it, you take the
stitch under, then around, then over and through, like this.” DeeDee watched Caine’s expert fingers work the embroidery thread through a difficult section of her appaloosa piece with ease. Sewing wasn’t the only thing his talented hands were good at, either. She snuggled in closer and kissed his cheek. “That’s amazing. You’re amazing.”
“No, my lass. You are.” He gently kissed her lips, then her jaw, then her ear. “I’m glad you’re here with me on Christmas Eve.”
“Me too.” She cuddled her face into his neck and sighed happily. “When will the others arrive?”
A knock echoed from the front door, as if on cue.
Caine chuckled, setting the embroidery aside before kissing DeeDee again then pushing to his feet. “Sounds like they’re outside now.”
She watched him walk out of their secret craft room, all masculine grace and confidence. A moment later, voices echoed from the grand living room—all four Quinn cousins plus Dex. They’d invited them over to thank them for their help that night at the Tribunal and to celebrate the holidays. Plus, the huge house seemed empty with just the two of them since Carletta had flown back out to Hollywood to celebrate Christmas with her West Coast friends.
DeeDee stood and straightened her outfit—a funky Christmas sweater with a large wolf wearing a jingly Santa hat on the front, identical to the one Caine wore—then headed out into the kitchen, careful to lock the craft room door behind her. She loved embroidery and had urged Caine to go public with his hobby, but he still wanted to keep it a secret, so she honored his wishes. Maybe one day she’d get him to come out of his craft closet.
Snorting at her own wit, DeeDee stepped into the great room in time to greet their new arrivals. She hugged each of the Quinns and took their coats then offered them homemade eggnog. It seemed the Quinns had all brought their familiars with them too—Issy’s adorable little Pomeranian, Bella; Ember’s fluffy little puffball kittens, Bellatrix and Endora; Gray’s squawking cockatoo, Cosmo; and Raine’s ever-growing Venus flytrap, Mortimer. Even Brimstone deigned to grace Caine’s estate with his presence. The large charcoal-gray cat strutted in, taking a good look around before draping himself across the slate hearth in front of the crackling fire. He gave DeeDee a superior look with his hellfire-orange gaze and purred loudly.
She glanced at Issy, who shook her head. “He says you may bring him a bowl of cream. I say he can drink eggnog like the rest of us if he’s thirsty.”
Brimstone gave a dismissive swipe of his tail then turned away to groom his paws.
“I’ll see what I can find.” DeeDee snorted.
Once everyone was settled, eggnog in hand, DeeDee took a seat on the sofa beside Caine and snuggled into his side. She’d never been one for overt displays of affection in public and had teased Dex relentlessly about holding hands or kissing Issy when they were out together. Now, though, she couldn’t seem to stop touching Caine. His warmth penetrated through her sweater and seeped into her skin, making her feel safe and secure and infinitely cared for. She couldn’t get enough, would never get enough of her mate.
My mate.
The words still seemed strange sometimes. Then their connection would tug around her heart, and she’d fall right back into place beside him, where she belonged.
Raine set Morty’s pot down on the coffee table, and DeeDee couldn’t help eyeing the plant suspiciously. “You didn’t bring him to spy on us, did you?”
“Don’t be silly.” Raine took a large sip of her eggnog. “I felt bad leaving him home alone on Christmas Eve. You should open your gifts.”
“Gifts?” DeeDee asked.
“Look,” Caine said, pointing to a small pile of beautifully wrapped presents under the tree against the wall.
“Where did those come from?” she asked. They hadn’t been there earlier.
“We each brought you something to celebrate your engagement,” Gray said, smiling. There was still a lingering hint of sadness in his aqua gaze, and DeeDee’s heart pinched for him. She knew that look well, had felt the emotion many times herself before she’d found her mate.
Loneliness.
Gray was an excellent hairdresser and witch, and an even better friend. He deserved love and happiness too. Perhaps her and Caine marking the Promising Tree and declaring their true love would fulfill another of the tree’s legends—that they could pass on the gift of finding true love to another. If so, then she wished it for her friend Gray Quinn. Without the whole murder-investigation-dead-body part, of course.
Caine stood and held out his hand to DeeDee. She took it, and together they walked over to the tree and took a seat on the floor.
“This was so thoughtful of all of you,” Caine said.
“That’s what friends do,” Issy said, lacing her fingers through Dex’s.
“Besides, you haven’t opened them yet,” Dex said. “Maybe you won’t like them.”
“I’m sure we will, buddy,” DeeDee said, smiling at him. “Thanks.”
“No problem.” Dex kissed the back of Issy’s hand then grinned.
Caine opened a small box covered in shiny silver paper first. Inside was a golden pair of specially designed fur-trimming scissors from Gray. He held them out for DeeDee to inspect.
“Oh, these are lovely! Thanks so much,” she said.
“For when you can’t make it into Sheer Magic,” Gray said with a wink.
“Right.” Him casting that beauty spell on her all those months ago had started DeeDee’s journey to true love. She’d never be able to thank him enough. “I’ll still keep my regular appointments, though. Don’t worry.”
Next was a box of delicious chocolates from Ember. Her shop, Divine Cravings, had the most delectable candy in the state of New Hampshire. DeeDee also knew sometimes Ember and her cousins liked to put little charms and hexes on the chocolates, so when Caine took one and prepared to pop it in his mouth, she stopped him.
“These are…normal chocolate, right?” she asked Ember, giving her a wary look.
“Oh yes.” Ember smiled, her long auburn hair looking festive with sprigs of holly attached to her headband. “Just chocolate and caramel and tons of love. Promise.”
“Okay.” DeeDee took one too and ate it along with Caine. The salty caramel and pecans were the perfect foil to the rich dark chocolate. Turtles were her favorites, and she was touched Ember remembered. “Thank you.”
“Always welcome,” Ember said, blowing them both a kiss. “Blessings on your engagement and marriage.”
The last gift was a bit larger and had a tag on top stating it was from Issy and Dex. DeeDee raised a brow at her detective partner, and he just shrugged.
“Sorry,” Dex said. “No hints from me. Issy picked it out from her shop and wrapped it before I saw what was inside.”
Two extra-large, thick leather dog collars, as it turned out, were what was inside the box. DeeDee picked up the red one, its sliver spikes glinting in the lights from the tree, and gave Caine an inquiring stare. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”
He laughed and kissed her quickly. “We’ll talk about it later.”
“Aw, man,” Dex said, shaking his head. “I don’t even want to know what you two are going to do with those things.”
Laughter filled the room, and DeeDee carefully packed all their new gifts away and put them back under the tree before joining Caine on the sofa. “Thanks again, everyone. Those gifts are so wonderful. We really appreciate them.”
“Especially the collars,” Caine said, waggling his brows.
DeeDee smacked him on the arm then kissed his cheek. “Don’t pay any attention to my mate, Issy. His mind’s in the gutter lately.”
“Oh, I think it’s wonderful you two found each other at last,” Issy said, grinning. “I’m a sucker for unconventional love stories.”
“Can’t get any more unconventional than a murder investigation,” Raine said.
“Truth,” DeeDee said. “You know, I almost feel sorry for the two women arrested. After all, poor La
ura and Gina had to put up with Tucker Rockwood all that time, and honestly, he was kind of a jerk.”
Caine’s phone buzzed, and he pulled it from his pocket then chuckled. “My sister, Carletta, wishes us all a Merry Christmas.”
He held out the screen to show them all the picture she’d sent— Carletta and friends sitting on the beach, enjoying cocktails in the sunshine. The temperatures outside in Silver Hollow were a balmy fifteen degrees, and it had been snowing steadily since that morning. Most likely, they’d end up with a foot or more on the ground before it was all over.
DeeDee laughed and took the phone from Caine to type in a quick response. In the past few days, she and Caine’s sister had spent a lot more time together and had become, if not good friends quite yet, then at least fond of each other. She now realized Carletta’s somewhat antagonistic ways were to protect her brother from more heartache, and DeeDee understood her motives.
“Hey,” Issy said, snuggling closer into Dex’s side. “Have you guys seen that gnarly old pine tree in the forest? Dex and I pass it almost every day when we go out snowshoeing. The thing has looked half dead for months, but now it’s filled with fresh new greenery. Strangest thing ever. Must be the magic of Christmas.”
Caine and DeeDee exchanged a look, then a kiss, laughing.
“Yeah,” she said, rubbing noses with him. “The magic of Christmas.”
The doorbell rang again, causing DeeDee to jump. “That must be Stan.”
Dex frowned at her. “You invited Stan?”
DeeDee shrugged. “Just for one drink. His shift is over and it is Christmas eve.”
Stan had volunteered to take the holiday shift since he didn’t have family in the area. That way, DeeDee, Dex, and Owen could spend time at home. It was decent of the guy, considering he wasn’t usually that nice. Maybe being under the influence of Ursula would be a good thing even if it did make him act spacey and unpredictable.
Cry Wolf (Silver Hollow Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series Book 4) Page 14
