by E A Price
“Emily Wolf of Wolften Hollow,” she replied in a small voice.
A look of excitement flitted over Ed’s face. “No way, I love this show!”
Jamie giggled. “No you don’t.”
Ed nodded fervently. “Yes, I do, it’s my favorite show.”
“No, you’re too old,” she told him censoriously.
Ed affected a wounded look, which just made her giggle even more. “Well, I guess I can’t watch this with you then.”
Ed pulled out a DVD from behind his back, and Jamie’s face lit up. It contained brand new episodes of the cartoon, not yet broadcast on TV. She squealed and grabbed it out of his hands.
Kim let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding, and her wolf roared in contentment. That was it; now, Jamie loved him. “What do you say?”
“Thank you,” mumbled Jamie as she started pulling the disc out the case. Kim and Ed might as well have been invisible now.
Kim motioned with her head, and Ed followed her into the kitchen.
“Does she need help with that?”
Kim shook her head and put her hands on his shoulders. “No, she’s better at working the DVD player than I am. I’m impressed, by the way.”
Ed placed his hands on her waist. “Thank you, it’s a reaction I’m used to. I’m pretty impressive.”
“Hmmmm, modest too.”
She brushed his lips with hers, and he moaned lightly. He smiled. “So, how about that pizza?”
Kim chewed her lip. “Are you sure you don’t mind staying in?”
“Of course not, I prefer it.”
Kim raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
“Yeah, really. If I took you out wearing that I’d spend the evening having to threaten all of the other males drooling after you.”
Her lips curled up as her hands artfully made their way down his torso and round his back until they rested on his ass. “How about me? How could I stand all those other females leering at this gorgeous tushie?” Her wolf concurred; no other female should be looking at him.
Ed, likewise, found her ass. “Tushie?”
“Mmmm hmmmm, gorgeous tushie.”
“Besides, I’m glad I got a chance to meet Jamie. I hope she likes me.”
Kim was amazed at the sudden worry she noted in the usually confident and easy-going wolf. “I’m sure she will.”
He waggled his eyebrows. “Well, what’s not to like?”
She swatted his ass. “You really care, don’t you? About Jamie liking you?”
“Yeah, I mean, I’m hoping, that I’m going to be around for a while.”
He gave her such a puppy dog look that she couldn’t help the chuckle that bubbled out of her, but she soon sobered.
“I think you’re my mate,” she blurted and then cringed at her forwardness. Her beast, on the other hand, was dancing about gleefully. The wolf was all for telling him the first day they met.
Ed studied her quietly, and she was suddenly hit by a twinge of doubt that he didn’t feel the same way.
“I didn’t mean to freak you out.” She started trying to wriggle out of his arms, but he clamped his hands on her body.
“I feel the same way,” he told her thickly. “I felt it the first moment I saw you and scented you – you smell like lavender by the way.”
He started nuzzling her neck and she let out a sigh of relief. “You smell like clean clothes,” she murmured distractedly as he kissed her neck.
A rumbling laugh shook his chest. “Mmmm, sexy.”
“Yes, it is,” she reassured him. He was sexy, beautiful, funny, wonderful, smart and just perfect for her in every way. At that moment, she knew she never wanted to live without him.
Chapter Seven
Present day
Kim tried not to look too guilty or too happy as Ed rubbed her thigh under the table. They were eating a late breakfast; everyone but Harold Jr., Helena and Kurt were present. The room was quiet except for the clicking of Judy’s knitting needles. Kim couldn’t care less about Harold, less was definitely more with him, but she was starting to worry what the twin absences of Kurt and Helena meant.
Kim let out a small gasp as Ed’s hand became bolder. Olivia gave her an odd look, and Kim flushed. Her wolf panted at the tingling feeling Ed’s touch elicited, but she was a little concerned that all the other wolves in the room might detect her heightened arousal, so she carefully removed his hand. He mouthed the word ‘spoilsport’ at her.
Marguerite shivered and looked out the window. “It’s suddenly become very dull outside.”
Everyone turned and looked. Sure enough, the sky had darkened and clouded over; the sun was no longer visible.
Harold Jr. stomped into the room and dropped his tablet onto the table. “There’s a storm coming in quickly. Those idiot weather wizards never get anything right.”
Christine murmured her agreement to her husband, and he gave her shoulder a quick squeeze before loading up his plate with bacon, sausages and eggs.
“Hopefully, the worst of it will just pass us by, but we need to close up the house and stay indoors, and absolutely no one is to try to go anywhere by boat. Understand?”
He looked around the room at everyone accusingly until they all agreed with him. Happy that everyone was in compliance he began wolfing his meal.
Helena sighed. “Well, this is going to be boring then, isn’t it? What’s the point of being in the Caribbean if you’re stuck indoors?”
Harold Jr. glared at her and was about to open his mouth when Christine interrupted. “There’s plenty we can do; we have lots of games.” She rubbed her husband’s arm and he was slightly mollified.
Jonathan fixed Kim with a particularly lascivious smile. “Yes, we’ll just have to enjoy some indoor sports.”
Kim rolled her eyes, and Ed let out a low warning growl to his brother, who in turn laughed so hard he almost fell off his seat.
Harold Sr. huffed. “He’s not wrong.” He cast a disapproving glare on his son, Arthur. “Perhaps if you spent more time inside with your wife, instead of out drinking with god only knows who, you might have actually produced a child by now.”
Jennifer tried to make herself look as small as possible while Arthur looked outraged.
“He has a point,” agreed Marguerite, “you’ve been married for seven years, dear, people are starting to talk.”
Arthur’s eyes flashed to amber. “It’s none of their business, and it’s none of yours either.”
He stood up and stormed out of the room. Jennifer quietly excused herself and followed.
Ed was trying to communicate with Kim through eyebrow gestures. She wasn’t entirely sure, but she gathered that he was making a point as to why he hadn’t introduced her to his family sooner. He had quite expressive eyebrows.
Marie cast her eyes in Olivia’s direction. “What about you, young lady?”
Olivia almost choked. “You’re not expecting me to produce a child are you?”
“Of course not, dear,” replied Marie smoothly. “But, isn’t it about time that you considered whether you were serious about that boy you’ve brought with you,” she said referring to Kurt. “Or whether you would want an arranged marriage.”
“Grandmother!” exclaimed Olivia.
“I’m sure she will make up her own mind,” growled Will.
“Well, she can’t leave it too long. If she wants to make a proper match, it should happen now. Harold!” Marie looked to her eldest grandson who tried not to let the annoyance show on his face. “Have you considered whether you could make a match for her with another pack?”
Olivia threw down her napkin and got up to leave. “This is unbelievable!”
She scrambled out of the room, and Will gave his grandmother and Harold Jr. a reproving glance before leaving.
“Drop the subject,” ordered Harold Jr.
Marie sniffed. “If she gets any older, she won’t be able to make a match. I understand the son of the Rosen pack Alpha is ready to settle down;
their connections would be excellent for our pack.”
“I will not force her into an arranged marriage,” replied Harold Jr. roughly. “I am the Alpha, and I said to drop it.”
“And I control the family money and deserve a say in how things are run,” she said with some relish.
A flash of irritation marred his features. “Excuse me,” he hissed, before walking out of the room stiffly.
Christine gave everyone a small smile, before corralling her sons and following her mate.
Marie flashed a triumphant smile before she let out a sigh of displeasure when Judy told her it was time for her medication. She grumbled as Judy led her out the room.
Harold Sr. excused himself to start closing up the house and Marguerite went off in search of the staff.
Kim let out a long breath. Good lord! They’d seemed so normal yesterday. Had everyone had a personality transplant overnight?
Ed gave her an apologetic smile while Jonathan got up to pour himself a glass of whiskey. He raised his glass. “Welcome to the family, Kim. Take my advice, start drinking now.”
*
Kim tried to make herself invisible behind a huge, overhanging plant. She wasn’t exactly the best at hide-and-seek - the game wasn’t designed for six-foot she-wolves. But Jamie insisted both she and Ed play, and given that vicious torrents of rain and wind were now pelting against the house, they were happy to do anything to distract the pups. At that moment, Ed and Jamie were counting and would come looking for her any second.
Kim pushed herself against the wall as she heard voices coming her way. She considered whether she should jump out and shout boo at them. Jamie loved that, and it always sent her into fits of giggles.
She froze as she realized the voices didn’t belong to Jamie or Ed. She sniffed and groaned inwardly as she scented Jonathan and Jennifer. She spent a couple of seconds agonizing over whether she should duck out of her hiding spot or just stay where she was and hope they didn’t see her. They were already pretty close, and she would most likely startle them if she did leap out.
“I’m sorry to put you in this position, it’s just that I can’t talk to Arthur anymore,” murmured Jennifer.
“It’s fine,” replied Jonathan smoothly, “jackass doesn’t know how lucky he is to have you.”
Kim closed her eyes and prayed to become invisible. It would be weird if she just suddenly appeared now.
Jennifer grunted. “Maybe if he did know, I wouldn’t need to be with you.”
“Anytime you need me, you know where I am. Don’t let my family push you around, you’re far too good for us.”
“Thank you, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Kim heard the sound of a kiss and then retreating footsteps in opposite directions. She tensed as Jonathan passed her, but thanked her lucky stars that he just kept on going.
When she was sure they were gone, she stumbled out of her hiding spot. Yeesh, what the heck was that about?
“Found you!”
Kim jumped as Jamie threw herself at her, and wrapped herself around Kim’s legs.
“You weren’t even trying to hide!” complained Jamie, giving her a disapproving look.
Ed chuckled as he sauntered towards them. “Yeah, Kim, you have to play properly.”
Kim gave him the stink eye and considered telling him about what she just saw, but thought better of it.
Instead, she pulled Jamie to her feet. “So, who else have you found?”
“No one,” Jamie told her excitedly.
“Then let’s go get them!”
Jamie squealed and set off with Kim and Ed trailing after her.
The conversation between Jonathan and Jennifer was probably nothing, and it was none of her business anyway. She should just forget she heard anything.
*
Kim settled back into Ed’s arms and ignored the flickering lights. It was late, and all the pups had gone to bed. The adults, or at least everyone over the age of 18 with the exception of the house staff George and Ethel, were in the living room. Although, calling any of them 'adult' was being generous.
The electricity was waving off and on, so numerous candles had been lit. The majority of the assembled party, in frustration at not being able to watch TV and at getting very poor phone reception, had taken to sniping at one another. Plus, the freely flowing alcohol wasn’t helping.
Ed squeezed her and held her to him tightly. She suspected that he was worrying that she would be put off marrying him by his family’s behavior. He needn’t fear anything; there was no way he was getting rid of her. He’d have to change his name and move to a different country before he could shake her, and even then that was no guarantee. Her wolf yowled in happy agreement.
At that moment, Harold Jr. was snapping at Jonathan, and Jonathan was easily goading him on. Kim had missed the start of the argument, but soon it had devolved into Jonathan calling Harold an uptight asshole, and Harold calling Jonathan a lazy wastrel.
Jonathan poured himself another scotch. “Why don’t you just take that stick out of your ass?”
“How dare you!” roared Harold Jr., “I am your Alpha, how dare you speak to me that way?”
Jonathan snorted and downed his drink in one before refilling his glass.
“Don’t you think you’ve had enough, dear?” asked his grandmother in annoyance.
He smiled at her before downing his next drink.
Christine was trying to sooth her husband. “Calm down, darling, there’s no need to get angry.”
“Don’t patronize me, woman,” he roared.
“Don’t talk to your mate that way!” cried Olivia hotly.
“He’s the Alpha, he can do as he chooses,” said Marguerite primly.
Olivia folded her arms. “That doesn’t give him the right to treat her that way.”
“It’s fine,” muttered Christine.
“He can do as he chooses with his mate,” declared Harold Sr., flashing Olivia a reproving glance.
“Father, please,” began Will.
“Quiet, William.”
Arthur jumped up and got his own drink. “For heaven’s sake, I don’t know why the hell I agreed to come here.”
Jennifer snorted. “Yes, you could have been miserable and drunk at home.”
Kurt sighed. “Maybe everyone should just calm down.”
“You’re not family, it’s nothing to do with you,” sneered Harold Jr.
“Not yet,” murmured Helena.
Olivia flushed in embarrassment and Will’s eyes bulged.
It was about as much as Kim could stand. “Everyone, please, maybe it’s time we all went to bed.”
“And you’re not part of our family either,” snapped Harold Jr.
“Kim and I are getting married!” yelled Ed.
Everyone was silenced; the only sound was the clickety-clack of Judy’s knitting needles.
A mixture of angry and surprised eyes flashed in Kim’s direction. Terrific.
“Is this a joke?” asked Ed’s father. His voice was filled with quiet anger.
Kim became nervous. Suddenly, his family’s opinion did matter. It was important if they were opposed to their relationship.
Lord, it had been a long time since she was this nervous. The last time was when she and Ed were first together…
*
1st October
“Hey, what else can I do?”
Kim looked up to find Ed with his sleeves rolled up. It was the end of a long shift at Bar Luna and Kim was cashing up while Ed tidied the bar. Ordinarily she’d have kept the other bartender behind to do the job, but Andy had been a bear with a sore head recently. Besides, it was any excuse to prolong her time with Ed. “Stack the chairs on top of the tables and give the floor a sweep. The cleaners will be in tomorrow, so we don’t need to do too much.”
Ed treated her to a dazzling smile. “You got it.”
“Thanks, babe.”
He chuckled. “Did you call me babe?”
&n
bsp; She fluttered her eyelids. “Umm hmm.”
He winked. “I love it.”
Kim smiled and finished her task. She grabbed the cash and took it back to her office to stash it in the safe. She stood up and moaned as Ed snaked his arms round her waist. He flourished feathery kisses over her neck.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured.
Her wolf growled lustily, and Kim pressed her back against him. She felt a mixture of delight and anxiousness at feeling his hard erection pressing against her buttocks. She wanted him, boy did she, but so far she hadn’t done anything that would involve shedding her clothes. She was just terribly nervous. They weren’t so much butterflies in her stomach as parading elephants.
He was more important than any other man who had wandered into her life, and that scared the hell out of her. She needed him and needed him to need her. And she loved him. Yep, she freely admitted to herself and her wolf that she loved him, and she was freaking scared of either losing him or disappointing him.
Slowly, she allowed Ed to turn her around. He shook his head as he looked her up and down.
“What?”
He let out a soft chuckle. “I just can’t believe that you would want to be with me.”
Kim ran her hands up his arms. “Why wouldn’t I? What’s so special about me?”
Ed looked at her in disbelief. “You’re kidding, right? I have to pinch myself every few seconds to make sure I’m not actually dreaming. I don’t know what I did in a past life to deserve you, but damn, I am thankful.”
Kim looked away in embarrassment. Plenty of men had told her she was beautiful, usually to get into her pants, but she couldn’t believe that she deserved Ed’s worshipful gaze. “You think too much of me.”
Gently, Ed cupped her chin and directed her gaze back to his. “No, I don’t, gorgeous.”
He pressed his lips to hers for a tender kiss. As she clasped his body to hers, the kiss turned more insistent, and his tongue delved into her mouth, hungrily teasing and tasting her. He ran his hands over her body, searing a path over her sensitive flesh. Her body flushed and she quivered in his arms.
Reluctantly he pulled back. “It’s getting late.”
Kim chewed her lip and her wolf whimpered. “Don’t go,” she whispered.
