Shifters, Secrets & Surprises

by Lowe, Anna

  “And how about this?” She brushed a hand lower, toward his jutting cock. “I might have to check that, too.”

  His lips opened a tiny crack, and he nodded silently.

  She moved lower, kissing his skin. When she wrapped her hand around his cock, it stood even stiffer, harder.

  “Hmm. Let me see,” she murmured then kissed the head.

  His fingers tightened in her hair, and a ripple went through his body. Yeah, he liked that, all right.

  She peppered kisses all around his thick cock then popped her lips over the tip and slowly slid down. The man was huge. Powerful yet gentle at the same time. She slid up, letting her lips play over the silky head, then opened her mouth and took him deeper again.

  He groaned and held her closer still.

  She slid up and down in an echo of his moves inside her the first time they’d been together — slow, careful. She split her legs into a wider straddle and touched herself at the same time. Harrison had brought out a sensual need she didn’t know she had, prompting her to one thrilling first after another — like toying with herself while going down on a man. Like relaxing her throat to take him deeper and deeper, for her own pleasure as much as for his.

  So good, he groaned in her mind. God, Nala. That’s so good.

  Gonna get better, my mate, she promised. Gonna get better.

  She dipped her hips lower, dragging her sex along his leg, but a moment later, he tugged her upward.

  “You don’t like?” she asked.

  He pulled her all the way up and kissed her deeply, licking her lips. Oh, I like. I like this taste on you.

  He devoured her, licking into every corner of her mouth. Claiming her. Marking her as his own. Nala whimpered, drawing her body up and down his. Then she spread her legs wider and shifted until his cock pushed at her folds.

  “I like this, too,” she murmured, rearing up to lock eyes with him.

  He gripped her hips and thrust up into her.

  She groaned and she started to rock, working him deeper and deeper. “Yes.” She panted, relishing the glorious stretch, the burning heat inside. “God, yes.”

  She tipped her chin higher and higher, leaning farther and farther back, seeking the perfect angle. When she found it, she bucked harder, slowly losing control.

  “Yes… yes…”

  With Harrison’s hands wrapped around her waist, she felt balanced and secure. And when he touched her clit, she exploded with need she knew she could never fulfill on her own. She rocked twice more, savoring the feeling, then leaned over Harrison’s chest.

  “Time to show your stuff, mister,” she whispered.

  Before she could so much as breathe, he rolled and pinned her arms over her head. He pushed her legs apart with his and dragged his cock along her belly.

  “Need you so bad,” she moaned, wiggling into place.

  “Need you,” he croaked, thrusting into her at last.

  She cried out and threw her head back. “Yes. Yes.”

  No man had ever turned her on like Harrison did. No man ever made her as high as quickly.

  Mate, her wolf hummed inside. Mate.

  Harrison worked himself deeper, one thrust at a time, and her body danced with the thrill.

  “We’re made for each other, you and I,” she murmured exactly as she had their first time together. He’d been wary of hurting her then, but damn, it had just been the opposite — sheer pleasure. Sheer joy.

  “Made for each other,” he agreed, pulling her knee higher against his side.

  He pumped faster. Harder. More insistently, settling into a wild rhythm she could barely keep up with. She gripped the sheets and clenched her inner muscles around him every time he pushed.

  Surrender, her wolf howled, begging her to cede all control and just relish the ride.

  “Harrison. Now. Now…” she cried as she shuddered in climax. Her eyes were open, but all she saw was a blur. The blur of Harrison, driving into her. The blur of emotion inside. The overpowering sensations of pleasure almost too great to bear.

  “Yes!” she cried one more time, letting go completely.

  Harrison panted and thrust twice more before bottoming out and releasing deep, deep inside her.

  She clutched at his back and shoulders, riding out her high while he murmured in her ear. An aftershock rippled through her, and she cried out again, milking him one last time before going limp.

  “So good,” she murmured, again and again. How could anything feel so good?

  Slowly, the crackle of the fireplace worked its way back into her senses. The distant laughter of children outside. The special peace that came with a holiday and a thick blanket of snow. Her mate holding her close. No rush. No fuss. No worries. Life had never felt so good.

  She fingered his neck gently and whispered, “Can’t wait for New Year’s Eve.”

  “Me, neither,” he said, hugging her close.

  “Three more days,” she said, curling up along the scoop of his body. It was amazing how quickly he could make her go from wildly horny to totally, utterly content.

  They’d decided to exchange mating bites on New Year’s Eve, and anticipation was half the fun. And after that — well, they’d slowly figure out the rest. Her father had already offered Harrison a job patrolling the western reaches of the woods — as perfect a job for a sasquatch as there could be. She had another semester to endure in Boston, but all her classes fell on two tightly packed days. The rest was research and field work, so they could make that work, too. And when she finished her degree, she could move back home permanently.

  “Merry Christmas, my love,” she whispered. Yes, it was a few days late, but it sure felt like Christmas.

  He nuzzled her softly. “Merry Christmas, my mate.”

  Thank you!

  Thank you for reading Sasquatch Surprise! Have you read the series this novella spins off from? Check out The Wolves of Twin Moon Ranch to find out more about Harrison's back story and about the powerful pack run by Nala's sister in the desert Southwest. There’s more than meets the eye on Twin Moon Ranch, home to a pack of shapeshifting wolves willing to battle for life and love.

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  A Present for the Alphas

  Hunted by the Alphas

  by Lily Thorn

  A Present for the Alphas

  Yuletide has come to the Ember pack. But what can Val get for two Alphas who have everything?

  Chapter One

  Val knew she was going to die. Her stomach dropped as an unforgiving wall of white rushed to meet her. She wanted to close her eyes, but she couldn’t force them shut. She would have to watch her death unfold, every agonizing second of it. How could this be her fate?

  She took in an icy breath, knuckles white where they clutched the rough rope. Why had she agreed to this? Mercy said it would be fun, but Val’s idea of fun didn’t include careening down a deceptively steep hillside on a toboggan that defied all of her attempts to steer.

  “The rope!” Blaze called from far above. “Pull the rope, Val!”

  “What do you think I’m doing?” Her words were whipped away by the cold wind.

  She flew down the slope, picking up speed. Val would have been exhilarated, but she couldn’t help noticing that the toboggan’s nose kept edging left. That was bad. She needed to keep it on the narrow track. To the left was a ledge, which dropped off into the base of the falls. If the toboggan veered too far, that was where Val would end up.

  The river was frigid, but the falls still hadn’t frozen. If she fell in, it would only be a question of whether the crushing water or the cold killed her first.

  “Turn, Val!” Blaze shouted.

  But she couldn’t stop staring at the angry river. As if it sensed her fascination, the toboggan tilted her toward destruction. Val tugged the rope frantically. The wall of white at t
he bottom of the slope didn’t seem so terrifying anymore.

  Snow flew as the toboggan’s tip hung over the ledge.

  Blaze’s yell broke off into a horrified howl.

  Val could only grip the rope as the toboggan continued on its deadly course. The river seemed to loom in her vision, reaching out to ensnare her in its maw.

  Her heart thrummed in her chest. She closed her eyes, bracing for the cold.

  The rope was almost yanked from her hands. She clutched it like a lifeline as the toboggan jerked to the side. A clump of snow fell, snatched under by the churning water.

  Looking up, Val saw her savior. A black wolf had caught the rope in his jaws, pulling her to safety. Once she was back on course, he jumped on behind her.

  “Thanks, Ash,” she murmured.

  He shifted, strong arms encircling her. “Just hold on,” he said. “And don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  With her Alpha at her back, she had no fear. Val raised her arms, feeling the wind gust past as the toboggan sped down the hill.

  “If you want to veer right, look and lean right,” Ash shouted in her ear. “Try it.”

  Val looked and leaned, hauling on the rope for good measure. The toboggan obeyed, veering until it was back on the packed snow. Val breathed a sigh of relief. This was the track created by previous toboggan rides—as long as she stayed on this course, she was safe.

  But the ground still swiftly rose to meet her. Val leaned back against Ash, wondering how much it would hurt if they plowed into the snowbank below. Mercy had somehow stopped with a swerving flourish, but Val hadn’t worked out how she’d been able to do that. In her excitement to try for herself, she’d neglected to ask how to brake.

  “Put your feet off the sides,” Ash said. “Just the heels of your boots. Slowly, at first. And try to lower both feet at the same speed. If they’re too different, we’ll veer.”

  Carefully, Val obeyed. Her heels dug into the powder, making it fly. But the toboggan slowed, and the bottom of the hill no longer seemed quite so threatening. Val dug her heels in deeper, and the toboggan came to a gradual, graceful stop.

  She heard cheering from the top of the hill. Val stood, feeling a little unsteady on her feet, but turned and pumped a fist in the air. She was almost knocked over by a russet wolf who shifted into a man at the last second.

  “Val!” Blaze hugged her close. “Are you all right?”

  Ash laughed. “She’s fine. You’ll see.”

  “Are you sure?” Blaze peered at her. “You were headed right for the river. Do you want to take a break? We can go inside and sit by the fire. You can have some tea or cocoa. Would you like that?”

  “No.” Val grabbed the toboggan rope, running for the hill. “I want to go again!”

  The Alphas looked at each other and grinned.

  She was panting by the time she reached the top. Ash and Blaze trotted up effortlessly behind her.

  “Show-offs,” she muttered. She could have shifted too, but she didn’t want to shed her leather boots, pants, or jacket. While she was warmer than she used to be in the cold, she still didn’t want to bare her skin to it, even for a second. She wasn’t sure how her mates did it.

  “Are you all right?” Mercy asked. “You had me scared for a minute there.”

  “I think I’ve gotten the hang of it.” Val swung the toboggan around, positioning it for another run. “Do you mind if I try again?”

  “If you’re sure,” Mercy said. “Just don’t kill me if you crash and die.”

  “Deal.” Val sat on the slatted wood, nudging the toboggan’s nose over the hill’s edge. “Are you coming?” she asked her Alphas.

  Both of them shifted and jumped on. The force pushed the toboggan onto the snowy track, and Val shouted with delight. They went even faster with the three of them. Val’s heart raced as they flew down the hillside, nipped by the wind and speckled with powdery snow. As one, they leaned with the track, keeping the toboggan on course.

  The ride was over all too soon. Val sighed as they dug their heels into the snow. She could do this all day, but this wasn’t her toboggan.

  Dutifully, she towed it back up the hill.

  “Are you sure you don’t want another run?” Mercy asked. “A few more, and we’ll have another expert on our hands.”

  “Maybe later.” Val knew Mercy would give her the toboggan if she asked, but she couldn’t monopolize her friend’s possession. Reluctantly, she handed the rope over to its rightful owner.

  “Come on, Fury,” Mercy said. “Your ride’s about to leave!”

  Val watched as the two of them barreled down the steep hill, trying not to envy that beautiful toboggan. She wondered where Mercy had gotten it. She’d have to remember to ask.

  Turning, Val saw her Alphas watching her. Both were naked, impervious to the snow and biting winds. She drank them in, admiring their toned chests and rippling abs. From this vantage, the whole valley was visible, river and forests and waterfall, but Val was only interested in one view.

  “Cocoa?” Ash asked. “By the fireside?”

  Val smiled. “I wouldn’t mind.”

  Together, she and her mates headed toward the den.

  The waterfall thundered before them. Val raced over the slick rocks as fast as she dared. In the summer, the spray of the falls was refreshing. In the winter, it could chill her to the bone. Ash had said that it might freeze sometime in the new year. While that would stop the frigid spray, Val did worry that they might get trapped behind a wall of ice.

  At last, they were behind the waterfall. A fire roared in the main cavern, filling the space with heat and light. Val let out a satisfied sigh as she kicked the snow from her boots. After a morning in the freezing air, she always loved coming back to the cozy den.

  Walking toward the fire, she stood beside it for a moment, holding her palms out to the flames and letting the warmth seep into her skin. Most of the pack who hadn’t been on the hill was sitting at the table, their mugs full and steaming. Sage and Winter were chatting quietly. Beside them, Parker and Chase seemed to have both fallen asleep. Parker still held one of Sage’s famous scones in his hand. It looked like he’d lost consciousness before even taking a bite.

  Val wondered if she could steal it without waking him. Sage’s scones were transcendent, and they disappeared quickly. But Parker loved them most of all—if he caught Val, her fingers might get bitten off. The basket in front of him had been brimming with scones a day ago, but now it was empty. He seemed to have claimed the last one.

  Warmed enough, Val sank into a pile of furs by one of the cavern’s walls. She’d just have to wait for the cinnamon cakes that Mercy said would be at the Yule feast. She had described them in great detail, until Val’s mouth started to water. She could almost taste the hot, light cakes, dusted with powdered sugar. Mercy had gone on to list everything else on the menu, but Val couldn’t get her mind off the cakes. She didn’t care that they were dessert—she was determined to try them first.

  “Hungry?” Ash asked. He sat beside her, handing her a steaming mug and a plate that miraculously held one of Sage’s precious scones.

  Val’s eyes went wide. “How’d you get that? I thought they were all gone!”

  He grinned at her. “There are some perks to being an Alpha. Sage saved this one for me.”

  “But don’t you want it?”

  “Maybe just a bite.” He took one as she held it out to him. Eyes closing, he savored it. “You have the rest.”

  Val knew she should protest, but she couldn’t. Not when the pastry was calling to her.

  “Eat it quickly.” Ash winked. “Before I change my mind.”

  Val took a bite, the soft buttery morsel dancing over her tongue. She could taste the faint hint of lemon and spices. As much as she wanted to savor the scone, it disappeared before she was ready.

  She looked longingly at her plate, wishing more than crumbs remained. The cinnamon cakes seemed so far away.

  �
�Don’t worry,” Ash said. “If you’re still craving scones in a month or so, Blaze and I can fetch some ingredients. I’m sure we can persuade Sage to bake some more for you.”

  “That might be nice.” Val sat back, breathing in the scent of evergreen that hung in the air. Just last night, the pack had cut down the largest pine tree that would fit in the den, and hauled it inside. Mercy had said they would decorate it today, once the snow melted off and the needles dried. Val thought it looked splendid just as it was, the bright green banishing any winter gloom.

  Blaze sat by her other side, throwing an arm around her shoulders. “This is your first Yule, isn’t it, V?”

  “It’s actually my first Midwinter holiday. I’ve never really celebrated Christmas before, either.”

  Ash looked at her in amazement.

  “My family wasn’t big on holidays.” She took a sip of cocoa. “We celebrated birthdays, sort of, but those tended to be more of an excuse for my parents to give me nicer weapons. One Christmas, Raven and Sylvia tried to decorate the practice room with lights, but my mom said it was distracting.” Val grimaced. “I guess that’s what you get when you grow up with monster hunters.”

  “So you didn’t celebrate Christmas at all?” Blaze asked. “No singing, no gifts, no feast, nothing?”

  “One year, my parents decided we should take a break from practicing,” Val said. “So we went on a Christmas Eve hunt. We didn’t find any vampires, but I think we scared a group of carolers.”

  “That sounds fun, actually,” Blaze said. “Scaring carolers. Maybe we could start a new tradition?”

  Ash scowled at him.

  “Do you know much about Christmas?” Blaze asked. “It all seems so strange. A fat, all-knowing man in a red suit who sneaks into your house in the dead of night? Is he supposed to terrify children?”

  “Santa’s not terrifying,” Ash said. “He’s just a way for parents to get their kids to behave. Right, Val?”

  “I wouldn’t know.” Val finished her cocoa. “My parents made sure we practiced by telling us that if we didn’t, we wouldn’t be a match for a vampire. And we knew that vampires were very real.”