They sat on the dais at the front of the banquet hall, enjoying the feast of lobster, chicken, scallops, and a wide variety of dishes, surrounded by their family and friends. Behind them, there was a red and gold cutout of a Chinese character which Mrs. Tan had explained meant, ‘double happiness’, a traditional symbol of marriage. The older woman had also arranged for a lion dance for their reception, and everyone enjoyed how the skillful acrobats managed the leaps and jumps from the narrow platforms set up in the middle of the dance floor.
“Are you happy with our wedding, sweetheart?” he asked as he wrapped an arm around her waist. “Did you wish we waited?”
“Are you kidding?” she asked, her eyes never leaving the lion dancers. “This is the best wedding ever. And I wasn’t going to wait for another second to marry you.”
He kissed her temple. “Good.” His hand moved over her belly and, as if agreeing with Luna, the baby gave him a good kick. “Hope that one wasn’t too bad. Maybe he’ll be a pro footballer.”
“Or a Rockette,” she replied in an amused voice.
“Sweetheart, our baby can be whoever he or she wants.”
She tipped her head back and he kissed her on the lips. In the corner of her eyes, the gold and red paper seemed to shimmer. Double happiness, indeed.
Extended Epilogue
Five years later…
“Luna! Killian! I’m coming in, ready or not,” Meredith shouted through the door.
Luna let out a sigh and looked at her husband, who was currently trying to coax their youngest, three-year-old Olivia, into her dress.
“I don’t wanna go, daddy,” she pouted, and crossed her chubby arms. She was still wearing her pajamas.
“Please, pumpkin?” Killian waved the pink dress in front of the girl. “C’mon, Auntie Meredith is here.”
“Auntie Meredith is here! Auntie Meredith is here!” Arch, their eldest, came zooming down the hallway. He was already dressed in his jeans and shirt but was still barefoot. As Meredith came through the door, he launched himself into her arms, nearly sending his aunt to the ground.
“Arch!” Luna said, putting her hands on her waist. “You know you can’t roughhouse with Auntie Meredith when she has a baby in her tummy.”
“Sorry, Auntie Mer,” Arch said, bowing his head.
“It’s all right, kiddo,” Meredith ruffled his hair. “Me and the baby are all right. We’re pretty tough, you know. He or she is protecting me like you did when you were in your mommy’s tummy.” She rubbed her belly. “Hey, is Olivia ready too?”
“Kinda,” he nodded to Killian and Olivia. The little girl was still pouting and Killian was beginning to lose his patience.
“Awww, c’mere baby.” Meredith walked over to the father and daughter, opening her arms. Olivia immediately ran to her aunt then broke out into a fierce sob.
“Daddy’s being mean!” she cried. “I said I don’t wanna go. I wanna stay here with him and mommy!”
“You don’t want to come with me and Uncle Daric and your cousins? They’re waiting downstairs for you,” Meredith said, patting the little girl’s back. “And you know everyone’s going to be at the barbecue. Arch is coming and Lucas, Adrianna, Julianna, Mika, Dee, Nathan…all your friends will be there, too.”
Violet eyes peered up at her as if trying to judge if she was lying or not. “Well…I guess it’s okay. We’ll come back after, right?”
“I promise, we’ll drop you back here—unless you want to have a sleepover at my house? I bet I could ask Uncle Daric to show you some cool tricks he’s been working on.”
“Really? Yay!” The little girl kissed Meredith and grabbed the dress from her father’s hands. She ran to her room, whipping off her pajamas on the way, and was naked by the time she disappeared through the door into her room.
Killian gave Meredith a grateful nod. “Thanks.”
His sister sighed. “If only I could get my boys to do as I say. I heard girls are much easier.”
“Think it’ll be a girl this time?” Luna asked, looking at Meredith’s belly.
“I freaking hope so,” she answered. “But don’t tell Daric that. I think he secretly loves that I’m outnumbered at home.”
Luna laughed. “At least you’re not deadlocked in a tie all the time. It’s always boys versus girls around here.”
“Maybe we’ll make our little tie-breaker today, huh?” Killian said, giving her ass a squeeze.
“You better,” Meredith retorted. “I’m not driving into Long Island with four toddlers for nothing! At least maybe you’ll get lucky,” she winked at Luna.
“She got lucky last night,” Killian informed her. “But, we had to cut naked cuddling time short when Olivia had a nightmare and crawled into our bed.”
“You and mommy cuddle naked?” Arch asked as he popped his head from behind Luna. “That’s gross!” His little nose wrinkled.
Meredith laughed. “Aww, kiddo. If mommy and daddy didn’t cuddle naked, you wouldn’t be here right now.”
The little boy looked confused. “What does that mean?” He looked up to his father. “Daddy, what’s Auntie Meredith saying?”
Killian shot his sister a glare. “Go ask her. No, wait, don’t do that. I promise I’ll tell you when you get back, okay?” He picked up his son and gave him a kiss on the cheek then handed him to Luna so she could kiss him goodbye.
“I’m ready, I’m ready, woohoo!” Olivia screamed as she ran back into the room, wearing the pink dress. “Let’s go, Auntie Mer!”
“Okay kiddos, go grab your things.” As the two children grabbed their backpacks, Meredith turned to Luna and Killian. “Are you sure you guys don’t want to come along? You know Grant and Frankie always have a fabulous spread at these things.”
Luna gave her a smirk and looked at Killian. “Naw, we’re fine here.”
“Naked cuddle time. Right.”
“Thanks for offering to take the kids,” he said. “Be good,” he warned the two toddlers.
“Yes, daddy!” they said in unison.
“See you guys!” Meredith ushered Arch and Olivia out the door.
“Finally,” he said with a relieved sigh. “I have you alone.”
Luna giggled as her husband swept her up and carried her bridal-style to their bedroom. She didn’t think it was possible, but each year they were together, she only became happier and more in love with Killian. Sure, there were ups and downs, but she wouldn’t have wanted her life to turn out any other way. After she had given birth to Arch, she went back to work part-time at the Tisch Gallery. She realized that she loved mentoring and tutoring students and up-and-coming artists, so she got a job at the New York University’s Fine Arts Department. She worked part-time, and with the flexible hours, she could still spend time at home with the kids.
Killian, too, had made a few changes at work. Lone Wolf Security was thriving under his leadership, and they had added a few more Lycans to their roster. In fact, three of the Lycans from Ray’s gang became their most loyal and trusted employees. With the additional staff, he didn’t have to go overseas as much (or file paperwork, which he thought was the best part.)
“Ohhh, baby,” Luna moaned when Killian’s fingers skimmed over her panties. She looked down at his hand between her legs, her eyes glancing at the wolf’s head tattoo on his forearm. Killian had told her what it meant, and although he wasn’t a Lone Wolf anymore, (after having pledged to New York), it would always be there as a reminder of his past. And that was one of the things she loved most about him. Although he kept his eyes on the future, Killian never forgot where he came from and how hard he fought to get to where they were now.
“Slow down,” she giggled when he yanked down her panties. “We have all day.”
“Sweetheart,” he grinned as he positioned himself between her legs. “We have the rest of our lives.”
Turn the page for Author’s Notes and a SNEEK PEEK at Book 2 of the Lone Wolf Defenders
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Author's Notes
June 21, 2017
I’m writing this approximately two weeks after my wedding anniversary. While JT and I had a very different wedding from Killian and Luna, I couldn’t help but sprinkle in a few elements from our own reception. Having lived in China for a bit (and my own great-Grandmother being of Chinese descent), we had to have the double happiness symbol (seen above) in our wedding. The same characters we had still hangs outside our bedroom door to this day, and we plan to take it with us to our next destination (wherever and whenever that may be).
I thought that Tempted by the Wolf would be the end, but really, it was just the beginning. Writing this series has been so immensely satisfying. Frustrating sometimes, especially when certain characters refused to talk to me (I’m looking at you, Daric), but typing out every single word has been a joy. I really hope you liked the beginning of the Lone Wolf Defender series. By the time I was outlining Tempting by the Wolf, I really thought I would be done with the world of the New York Lycans. I was ready to move on. But, when I started writing about Killian, Quinn, and Connor, I knew that they had to have their own stories, too.
I can’t wait to bring you Quinn’s story. It’s going to be a much different tone, and from the way he’s been knocking around in my head, I can tell it’s going to be a fun one to write. And some of you have already told me they are dying for Connor’s story. He’ll be here soon, don’t worry.
I love hearing from you guys, so please do drop me a line at [email protected] and tell me what you think. If you loved Killian’s Secret and all the other books in the True Mates Series, thank you so much (and I hope maybe you leave me a review). And if you don’t like the book, and want to tell me why, I welcome those types of emails too. It helps me a lot as a writer, so I can get to know my audience and what they like and don’t like.
I’ll stop babbling and start writing (I hear you, Quinn!).
All the best,
Alicia
Sneek Peek: Loving Quinn
The well-worn manila envelope sat on his desk, its presence like an itch that Quinn couldn’t scratch. Why he placed it there, where it was always in the corner of his eye, he didn’t know. His name was scrawled in a familiar handwriting, but it had remained sealed all this time. Archie Leacham had left his adopted children many things when he died - his mansion in Portland, priceless treasures, and boatloads of cash. Yet, this was one thing that Quinn was reluctant to inherit. When the old master thief had taken him and his Lone Wolf siblings, he compiled all these files related to their backgrounds, but never gave it to them until his death.
Quinn had never believed in looking back at the past. It was done, after all and he refused to think of the before. Before Archie, before his sister and brothers. Because before was growing up with a single mother who could barely put food on the table. Before was hospitals and the stench of death. Before was the string of foster homes and harsh words and bruises and broken noses.
A low growl escaped from his throat. Calm down, buddy, he said. Wolf was not always easy to manage, but Archie had taught Quinn to control it. For a human, his adoptive father knew a lot about shifters, having been married to a Lycan himself. Quinn knew if it wasn’t for Archie, the animal would have broken apart. Still, Wolf did not like to be reminded of the past.
He grabbed the envelope, opened the bottom drawer of his desk and shoved the envelope inside, right on top of the spare cables and wires he always kept just in case. Leaning back in his chair, he looked around his office, at the multiple screens he had set up on his desk, checking the programs he was running. As Lone Wolf Security’s resident computer guy and hacker, he was responsible for all things tech. Right now, he was supposed to compile a some satellite images for their boss, Sebastian Creed, but it was taking some time. But, Quinn wasn’t worried. He never missed a deadline and he never let anyone down. Just because he and his brothers went legit, didn’t mean he was going to start slacking off. But, he had a few hours of nothing to do, and glancing at the clock, he realized it was nearly noon. Awesome. That meant only one thing…
Quinn got up from the chair, and glanced at his reflection on the window. He was dressed casually, as usual, in a black tight-fitting shirt and jeans. His longish blonde hair was in need of a trim, but running his hands quickly through the locks put some semblance of order. There was a couple days of scruff on his jaw, but he knew that always drove the ladies wild.
“Hey Evie,” Quinn greeted Lone Wolf Security’s part time administrative assistant. Evie King was seated at the reception desk, typing up the latest report on their last mission. “It’s almost noon, aren’t you going to lunch?”
“Hmmm?” She looked up at him, then at the clock. “Oh, yeah. I guess I’ll order in a sandwich from the deli or something. You want me to get you one, too?”
He frowned. “Aren’t you going out? It’s finally warming up. And, surely Selena would rather be out in the park than stuck in here.”
“Oh, Selena’s not coming today,” Evie replied and turned back to the computer screen.
Quinn waited for a heartbeat or two, but Evie did not elaborate. Selena always stopped for lunch by the Lone Wolf office when Evie worked here. She mentioned she didn’t work too far away. Why wasn’t she coming today?
A stab of disappointment went through Quinn, and he told himself it was only because he was looking forward to his usual verbal sparring with his archenemy. Selena…whatever her last name was. Every time she would stop by to pick up Evie for lunch, Quinn made sure he was there to prod and provoke the curvy little witch. He couldn’t help it; it was too fun to watch her blue-gray eyes blaze in anger whenever he was around, and so he did it every chance he got. Of course, she also gave as good as she got and shot back with her own insults. He looked forward to her visits, thinking up of new ways to annoy her each time.
“Is she sick?” Quinn finally asked.
“Who?”
“Selena. Is she sick?”
“No, she just came home really late. I think she had a date,” Evie said casually. “Anyway, she just texted me that she’s staying at the library for lunch since she slept in.”
A small pit formed in Quinn’s stomach. Selena had a date and she didn’t come home until this morning. Wolf was growling, sending his teeth on edge. Why Wolf acted that way, he didn’t know. He really needed to get a hold of his animal. Damn thing was ruling his life these days. “Must have been good date,” he managed to say out loud. “What’s his name?”
Before she could answer, the door slammed open and Evie startled. Connor’s large frame filled the door, his expression dour. So, normal for him. The scar over the right side of his face deepened as he looked over at Evie, then quickly glanced away.
“Well, good morning, sunshine,” Quinn greeted.
Connor grunted in reply. “I’m only here because Killian’s on his honeymoon. Again. How many honeymoons does one man need?”
Quinn laughed. “That first one was a babymoon,” he pointed out. “This is the real, after the wedding honeymoon.”
“Whatever. Don’t bother me unless you need to.” He disappeared down the hallway, and the sound of his heavy footsteps were soon followed by the slamming of the door.
“Hey,” he said, calling Evie’s attention. Her gaze was stuck towa
rd the hallway and Quinn rolled his eyes. Connor and Evie had been playing eye ping-pong for months now, but neither had spoken more than two words when they were in the same room. Of course, that probably had to do with the fact the when they first met, she hit him with her purse, but that was ages ago. The tension between the two had been growing, and Quinn just wished they’d put themselves (and everyone) out of misery and just fuck already. It would probably help get that stick out of his brother’s ass.
“So, who is he?”
“Who?” Evie asked, taken out of her trance.
“Selena’s date.”
“She didn’t say.”
God, this was like pulling teeth, Quinn moaned to himself. Even Wolf was getting annoyed, letting out a huff and scratching at him. He just wanted to know who this guy was so he could run a background check and make sure he wasn’t some serial killer. Once he found out, he could also break into the guy’s social networks, and maybe his email just to make sure. It wouldn’t hurt. But how could he do it if he didn’t know who she was out with? He’d have to take matters into his own hands.
“So, sandwich from the deli?” Evie asked.
“Nah,” he said, shaking his head. “I think I’ll go outside. Enjoy the spring sunshine.” He grabbed his phone from his pocket and pulled up his browser. So, the little witch worked at the library. With a little bit of Google-fu, he could probably figure out which library Selena worked at. After all, if she had an hour lunch, and she had time to stop by Lone Wolf during her break, she probably didn’t work that far.
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