by Lowe, Anna
“It didn’t take long, with both of us working,” Ash said. “And of course we made it for you. You’re our mate, and we wanted to show you how much you mean to us. Do you love it?”
Val nodded as she sank to the floor, sobbing silently.
“V?” Blaze crouched beside her. “What’s wrong? Do you not like the color? Red was Ash’s idea, we can change it. I can tell those aren’t happy tears. Don’t cry, please.”
“It’s not the toboggan,” Val managed to say. “I love it, I really do. I can’t wait to ride it with you. It’s just—” She broke off again, her throat constricting.
“We’re here,” Ash said, putting an arm around her. “And we’ll always be here, no matter what. If it’s not the toboggan, what’s upsetting you?”
She wasn’t able to stop the tears that ran down her cheeks. “I didn’t get you anything!”
Ash and Blaze exchanged an unreadable glance. Then they began to laugh.
Val wiped her eyes. “What’s so funny?”
“That might be partly our fault,” Blaze said.
Ash nodded. “I think our plan worked a little too well.”
“What plan?” Val sniffed.
“We asked Mercy to distract you,” Ash explained, “so that you wouldn’t find out what we were doing. There are a lot of steps involved in creating a toboggan, and you couldn’t be there for any of them.”
“It’s all right, though,” Blaze said. “I saw the scabbard Mercy’s giving Fury, and you did an amazing job. He’s going to love it.”
“Thanks.” Val bit her lip.
“We don’t require gifts.” Ash gave her a firm hug. “We have you. That’s all we need. So what do you say we go downstairs and continue the festivities?”
“It’ll be great,” Blaze said, “and I’ll find you a whole pitcher of birch beer.”
Val didn’t move. “I can’t.”
Blaze frowned. “You can’t what?”
“I can’t drink birch beer.”
The Alphas looked at each other again, clearly confused. Val tried to breathe. This was it. She had to tell them.
“I have a confession,” she said. They both looked so afraid, so worried. She’d have to tell them now, before she lost her nerve. “I’m pregnant.”
There was a moment of terrifying silence. Val winced, bracing for their reaction.
They erupted. Blaze jumped into the air, letting out a loud whoop. Ash began laughing. They both grabbed her, showering her with kisses and twirling her around the room. Then they embraced, pounding each other on the back.
“We’re going to be dads,” Ash said.
“Dads,” Blaze repeated. “Don’t call me crazy, but even though we just had an enormous feast, I think this calls for another one.”
Ash grabbed him by the shoulder solemnly. “I’ve never agreed with you more. We’ll tell the kitchens at once.”
“Wait,” Val said. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
They looked at her like she’d grown two heads.
“Why wouldn’t we be?” Ash asked.
“Yeah, Val. This is the best news we’ve ever gotten!”
“But aren’t you worried about winter stores, mouths to feed, rations?”
“We have to celebrate,” Blaze said. “You’ve just given us the best Yuletide gift of all.”
“And don’t try and talk us out of a feast,” Ash said. “Besides, I’m sure for this kind of celebration, Sage would make us scones and cinnamon cakes.”
Blaze grinned. “How could anyone say no to that?”
“I can’t believe this, Val.” Ash put a hand to his mouth, like he was trying to contain himself. “This is going to be so exciting.” He looked at her. “How long have you known?”
“Yeah, and how are you doing?”
“I’ve known since yesterday,” Val said. It was such a relief to tell her mates her secret. Why had she worried so much? She should have known that her Alphas would make her feel better immediately. They always did. “And I’m feeling fine. Just a little nervous.”
“Don’t be,” Blaze said. “But I should warn you that twins run in our family.”
“Twins?” That was right. Their father had been a twin, and they had twin cousins.
Ash frowned. “Don’t scare her. We aren’t twins, Val. It’ll probably just be one pup.”
Ash was right. The odds of twins had to be extremely low, didn’t they? But everything was fine. With the help of her Alphas, she’d be able to handle their pup.
“It’s a bit unfair, though,” Blaze said.
Val raised an eyebrow. “What’s unfair?”
“We have to wait nine whole months for our gift.”
Val put a finger to the side of her mouth. “Let me see if I can think of something to distract you until then…”
“Like what?” Blaze asked.
“You’re going to have to move that toboggan so I can show you.”
Getting her meaning, her Alphas were swift to move her gift into the hall. Taking their hands, Val pulled them down into the furs with her. She had all night to reward her incredible mates.
* * *
“We need to try out your gift,” Blaze declared the next afternoon when they awoke. The Alphas had announced the news to the pack the night before, kicking off revelries that had continued until dawn.
Bundling up, Val let her mates carry the toboggan through the knee-high snow. More had fallen that morning, and the world seemed to have been made pristine just for them. The sun was shining now, and a few warblers twittered as they searched for frozen berries. Val’s breath condensed on the air as they climbed the steep hill.
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Val asked when they reached the top.
“For tobogganing?” Blaze hopped on. “I was born ready.”
“No.” She giggled as she stepped on behind him. “I meant for a child.”
“Don’t worry, Val,” Ash said as he took his place behind her. “Having a pup is an adventure we’ll all take together.”
“I’m never worried,” Val said, “not as long as you’re both with me.”
“Here we go!” Blaze cried as he urged the toboggan forward.
Fine powder flew before them as they thundered down the slope. Val let out a joyful shout, raising her arms. There was no place she would rather be, no one she would rather be with. She was the luckiest person in the world, safe and warm between her two Alphas.
They continued downhill, almost flying, holding tight to the toboggan that had been built for three but was admirably carrying five.
Thank you!
Thanks for reading A Present for the Alphas. Find more of Lily's shifters at the links below.
Visit Lily’s home page
Sign up for Lily’s newsletter
Contact Lily on Facebook
Click here for a sneak peek of Hunted by the Alphas: Part One by Lily Thorn.
One Bearry Night
Clan Conroy #4
by Emma Alisyn
One Bearry Night
Duty and debt. Danger and determination. Two fated mates must balance love and duty.
Rebekah is determined to repay her debt to Clan Conroy, the Bear shifters who adopted her as a troubled teenager, accepting her as one of their own. When the Clan matriarch arranges a mating to a strange Bear, Rebekah feels no choice but to sacrifice her freedom for the sake of debt and duty.
Dominant Bear shifter Daamin took his five sisters and fled his homeland, determined to outwit the enemies threatening his family. Alone in a strange city, he has carved out a secret place for himself, but he needs allies. A mating with a beloved Clan daughter would provide security for his sisters.
When Rebekah meets her future mate by chance and falls in love, she must make the agonizing choice to leave him – not knowing that he is the one destined for her.
Daamin’s pride demands Rebekah choose him over duty, but his practical side respects her strength to place family above all else.
>
Will he sacrifice pride and claim his winter mate? Or will he let her go, and never know that their one passionate night produced a special holiday gift?
If you enjoy warm, emotional holiday novellas featuring paranormal shifters and the fated human mates who love them, you will enjoy this story about the struggle between love and duty. One Bearry Night is #4 in the Clan Conroy Brides series, and may be enjoyed as a standalone HEA with a small cliffhanger leading into a separate story featuring a new couple.
Chapter One
Rebekah rolled on her side and swiped the phone as a harpsichord alert went off – the most annoying ringtone she could find to help drag herself out of bed in the mornings. Reading the message, she sat up, eyes widening.
“What the hell? This is the third reschedule this week!”
Thumbs flying over the touchscreen, she replied – using somewhat politer language than that coming out of her mouth.
We are happy to accommodate schedule changes. Is there anything wrong my studio can help with? - R. Conroy.
Dad would be irritated. He’d wanted to book this guy for a holiday special, but the pre-production deadline was fast approaching. If they didn’t get a greenlight soon, she’d be scrambling to put together her backup episode.
The reply chimed a moment later.
No – C.C.
Rebekah clenched her teeth, sliding out of bed to head to the bathroom as she typed.
If we’re going to have a Winter Solstice special, we need to get all the details finalized. How about I come to Tacoma this week?- R. Conroy
She put the phone down and brushed her teeth. Ha. Let him wiggle out of a face-to-face meeting. Rabid curiosity as to what he looked like aside, a face-to-face meeting would be ideal – would let her lay down the law of actual television production. The internet stuff he did was great, which was why he’d captured the interest of Liam Conroy, celebrity chef and owner of the highest-rated shifter-owned cooking channel in the States. But she was losing patience – which was saying something, when this industry required nothing but patience.
Thursday. Meet me at my studio.- C.C.
A MapQuest popped up in the texts, giving her directions to his location.
“Yeah, baby,” Rebekah whooped.
An actual address. She now had an actual address and would get to see the inside of the studio where he produced his episodes and confections, a mix of baking and molecular gastronomy that had built him a solid following among cooking and food enthusiasts. The fact that he filmed each episode from the chest down so his face remained a mystery would make scoring him for the holiday special even more of a coup.
Liam Conroy and the Chemical Confectionist. The ratings would make sweet, sweet bank. She was planning on asking for a Solstice bonus.
Rebekah finished brushing her teeth and choosing her version of workwear – working for her Dad had perks, one being the lack of corporate attire requirement. She hadn’t much grown out of her teenage uniform of cargos, fitted tanks and plaid. Materials, cut and colors were more sophisticated, and depending on where she was she covered her sleeve of tattoos with a blazer, but she pretty much looked the same. Hair a few shades darker than natural, pale eyes with a thick triple coat of mascara and clear gloss on her lips. When she did nail polish, it was purple or navy – maybe this Solstice she’d go red to match the festivities.
Her cell rang and she hit answer before checking the ID – no one but family would call this early in the morning.
“Yeah?”
“It’s Grandmother, Rebekah. I thought we might have tea this morning.”
Rebekah made a face at the phone, finishing off her ponytail and leaving the bathroom, rooting around for black Mary Janes. Those were the last words many a Bear had heard before being roped into one of Gwenafar’s machinations. Being human didn’t give her a pass – not when she was the adopted daughter of Gwenafar’s eldest son.
“I don’t know, Dad wanted me to-”
“I won’t take up much of your time,” the female interjected, voice the kind of smooth that warned she’d not tolerate a no.
Damnit. “Yeah, okay. Now?”
“Did you have something else to do this morning?”
Plenty, considering her Dad was also her boss and that the internet personality she was tasked with tracking down was playing least in sight. But dear grandma didn’t consider either her son, or Rebekah’s job, to be anything else but amusing distractions from Den business. And the only reason Grams could want to talk to Rebekah now, using that tone of voice, was because of Den business. Maybe even Clan level, though Rebekah sincerely hoped not.
“I’ll meet you at the restaurant-”
“No, let’s go to neutral territory, hmm? How about that cupcake shop you like? They open early to serve muffins and hot beverages. I recall you prefer sugar for breakfast.”
Oh.... God. Neutral territory and a bribe of a completely inappropriate breakfast? Rebekah’s heart rate spiked. Now she really was worried.
“I’ll be there in twenty.” Best to let the sword hovering over her neck fall swiftly. That way the pain would be over soon.
Gwenafar was already seated, peeling the wrapper off a vanilla cupcake topped with a swirl of pink icing, when Rebekah arrived. An open box sat in front of her, each of the remaining cupcakes unique and colorful.
“The fruit filled are absolutely delicious,” the older female said. “Have you tried the new one? Blackberry lemon.”
She shrugged, careful to temper the moodiness of her body language at the last second. Gwenafar Conroy didn’t take no sass – not even from her Alpha son. “I like fruit. Let me grab coffee.”
Rebekah approached the counter, ringing the bell. A moment later a harried looking young woman rushed out, covered in flour and the cafe’s trademark green and pink apron, face slightly flushed.
“Hey, Brick, the usual?”
They’d gone to school together, though Amberley was from a different social circle. One of the not-quite-cool kids with a two-parent household and enough money for sports fees every season. Not the kind of kid the teenage Rebekah had had much use or like for, but Amberley had never been snotty so now that she owned a business, Rebekah was more than happy to patronize it.
“Yeah. Any new flavors this week?”
Amberley fiddled with the new espresso machine, muttering under her breath. Rebekah had never actually heard the woman swear, but it sounded like a few choice words were leaving the baker’s mouth now.
“Is the new equipment acting up?”
“I want to kick it.” She finally got it working and turned around, frustration in light gray eyes. Strands of her ashy brown hair escaped its long braid. “You won’t believe how much I spent on it, but my mom convinced me the way to catch the morning traffic is to offer caffeine.”
Amberley moved to the cupcake case, pulling out a cookie dough cupcake. Vanilla cake filled with cookie dough batter, topped with a generous swirl of icing and a small cookie. “I’m going to start doing scones soon, and breakfast wraps.”
“Expansion is good. Hmm, maybe Dad will consider doing a hometown small business episode.”
Amberley’s eyes widened as she clutched the counter. “Oh, joy. Me would love you long time. Like free cupcakes for life.”
Rebekah laughed, taking out her wallet. Amberley waved a hand. “Mrs. Conroy already bought a dozen cupcakes, no charge for this one.”
Rebekah’s lips pursed, though she smiled. “That’s no way to run a business.”
“You’ll be back.”
Amberley handed her the drink, two shots of espresso with brewed coffee, almond milk and caramel syrup, and disappeared back into the kitchen with a final thanks.
“That girl keeps calling me Mrs. Conroy,” Grams said. “I’m ambivalent about that. She is polite though. I wonder if she’s married?”
“Stop matchmaking, Grams. I’m a little nervous. What’s going on?”
Gwenafar’s dark eyes flicked to Rebekah’s fac
e, an amused smile on her lips. Normally it was a good idea not to show a predator fear, but Rebekah preferred the pretense of meekness with the Den Elder – especially since she’d seen the size of the female’s fangs when angry.
“The Mother’s Council asked I speak to you.”
Rebekah coughed on a piece of cupcake. Grams leaned forward and hit her on the back.
“The Council?” Rebekah said, eyes watering. “What do they want with me?”
“You’re turning twenty-six this Winter Solstice.”
Instinct warned Rebekah that this conversation was about to take a horrific turn. “Yeah? I was thinking of asking Aunt Norelle to do a fancy cake. It’s been a while.”
“That sounds nice. You aren’t mated, Rebekah.”
Oh, shit. There was only one reason a female Elder of the Mother’s Council would be concerned with the status of a human woman.
“Grams…”
Gwenafar’s eyes pinned her. She unwrapped a second cupcake, not taking her gaze from Rebekah’s face. Bears could pack away a shit ton of carbs and not gain a pound. Rebekah was more or less blessed with a fast metabolism – and Liam and Meredith were healthy eaters anyway, so she could get away with a second cupcake as well. Especially since she knew she’d need the sugar.
“You were raised as one of our own.”
“Well – I was sixteen when Meredith and Dad adopted me-”
“You understand our ways. You understand the grave circumstances we face. Your family.”
Rebekah contained a wince. Her inner rebellious teenager whined. Didn’t like Gwenafar layering on the beginning of a guilt trip, didn’t want to be roped into doing something she didn’t want to do. But the adult woman, and the adopted daughter who’d always craved family, security – who would do anything for the people who had taken her in as one of their own – began to slump into a resigned puddle of acceptance. ‘Cause she knew where this was going.
“You want me to pick a mate,” Rebekah said, cutting the verbal dancing. She preferred straight words.
