ChangingPaths

by Marilu Mann

  Rion stopped at the very edge of the property. He’d seen a shadow moving in the house then waited until it was joined by another one. Heaving a huge sigh, he watched them as they moved toward the bedroom. Gareth had definitely found a treasure in Harmony. Hopefully they could find her psycho ex before he did anything else to her or Rain.

  He couldn’t stop thinking about Amilee, their sister. Her silence had kept him and Gareth from knowing what was going on until it was too late. The bastard she’d married had killed their niece, their nephew and their sister. But unlike Harmony their sister had never tried to leave. She’d never told anyone what was happening to them. He still remembered the futile rage at being told they were too young to take the bastard on. His uncle had done the killing but Rion and Gareth had wanted to be the ones to do that. That denial had been a part of why they’d left their birth Pack in the long run.

  Rion couldn’t imagine a shifter doing that to his mate. Mating was such a sacred bond, at least that was what he’d always been told. It was what he’d grown up around. He saw it in the Alpha here with his mate too. He hoped he’d see it with Gareth and Harmony as well. Though knowing Gareth, someone would have to nudge him into admitting how he felt about her. A wolfish grin crossed his face as he realized he was thinking about his brother as though they’d never been separated.

  Rion? Everything okay? Kaj stepped into the moonlight, his head tilted to one side.

  Fine. Just thinking. Anything unusual on your side?

  No. All quiet all the way to the road. Did you see the light on in Rain’s room?

  No, she must have just turned it on. Is she okay?

  I think so. I believe the young one is worried about too many things for one so young. She worries about her mother, her father, Gareth and her mother, and her first shift. It’s a lot for a sixteen-year-old to have on her mind. Do you remember what you thought about when you were sixteen?

  All I thought about was leaving home. Rion shook from head to tail. Now I sometimes wish we had stayed put.

  Kaj moved closer and bumped shoulders with him. Sympathy and support all in one gesture. Rion heaved a sigh and raised his head. Come on, let’s make another round. I want them to have peace tonight. They’ll have more shit to deal with tomorrow at the Gathering when Rain makes her first shift.

  Right. Kaj yawned widely then shook much as Rion had a few minutes ago. Let’s hit it then. I’ll be on the road a day or so after you and Gareth. I’m heading south, though, not west.

  The two wolves made another round, scenting the air, looking for anything out of the ordinary, anything that didn’t belong and doing so in companionable silence.

  Chapter Eleven

  Harmony woke to the smell of bacon and fresh-brewed coffee. She rolled over slowly, feeling a few aches and pains from the last evening. Not bad aches like she’d had after a beating from Tom, but a different pull on unused muscles. The kind that came from prolonged lovemaking with a powerful shifter male. Gareth’s stamina amazed her, but what really amazed her was that she’d managed to keep up with him. They’d made love until almost sunrise and she’d finally fallen asleep with her head on his stomach and his hand stroking up and down her back.

  Getting out of bed, she stretched, raising her hands high over her head and going up on her toes. A low growl behind her had her spinning around to see Gareth standing in the doorway wearing only a pair of jeans that were dangerously low on his hips. He held a plate piled high with bacon and biscuits in one hand and a big mug of coffee in the other. His gaze traveled from her bare feet up to her face and she watched him very slowly put the plate and cup on the dresser and ease the door shut with his foot.

  She couldn’t stop the soft laugh that came out of her even as she started backing up. His bright-blue gaze returned to her then he was unfastening his jeans. He stumbled a bit when he tried to step out of them as he moved closer to her.

  “Again? Honestly you’re insatiable.” She laughed.

  “Moonlust, babe. Full moon tonight. Nothing a male wants more at this time than to fuck or fight, sometimes both. And when he’s got someone like you in his bed? He knows he’s got everything.” He’d come closer, his voice deep and guttural, his eye taking on that silvery sheen she associated with his wolf. Knowing he’d never hurt her, she still shivered as he took the final few steps that separated them. He reached out to pull her against him. The heat from his body seeped into her bones. As his scent reached her, her body began to react even though she didn’t think she could.

  With another low growl he scooped her up. The cold wall against her back only made her get a tight hold on her lover. She wrapped her legs around his hips, then grabbing a fistful of his hair, Harmony pulled Gareth’s head up. The fierceness of their mouths meeting was almost brutal. Still felt his restraint, knew he was holding back so as not to scare her. She let loose her own growl, surprised that it came out of her. He yanked his head back to stare at her.

  “I think last night proved I won’t break. Fuck me and stop holding back.” The lower pitch of her tone held echoes of her growl. Harmony swore she could feel herself pacing back and forth. It was as if some beast of her own held her in its grip.

  His quick grin flashed then she felt his cock at her entrance. Holding her with just one arm, he guided himself into her. She let her head fall back against the wall as he did as she’d asked. She held on tight, pushing against his thrusts, taking him deep, feeling her body’s response. Her nipples pebbled as they brushed against the soft hair on his chest. The wall held as he thrust over and over into her. Long, hard strokes that melted her insides and felt oh so good.

  She clenched her inner muscles as tight as she could. Her pussy shuddered from the friction. She loved the strength of his arms holding her against the wall. His body heat rose, as did hers. A thin bead of sweat traveled from her collarbone toward her breasts, but before it could go between them his tongue swooped it up. He licked then sucked, letting his teeth graze her skin.

  He had been so careful not to mark her in any way, no bruises, no hickies, no bite marks. Harmony wanted more. She held tight to his head, pushing his face harder into her skin. He growled again then she felt his teeth. He bit softly, all around her left breast, then right on the nipple. She cried out. It took a hard tug but she managed to yank his head back.

  He stared at her, his eye now much more silver than blue. She nodded jerkily toward the bed, his panting breath a counterpoint to her own. His cock, still embedded deep within her, twitched. Gareth moved with her to the bed. She felt the mattress give beneath her then sag more when he positioned himself over her.

  She pulled him closer but when he started to kiss her she shook her head. Before he could move she scooted down just enough so that her mouth was even with his chest. The need to mark him rose in her again. Even though she knew this was something only the Moon-Called did to their mates she didn’t second-guess herself this time. She loved him and she knew he loved her though neither of them had actually said the words. He was hers and only hers. That thought resonated through her as she made her move.

  Opening her mouth against his chest, she gave him a quick lick before latching her teeth into his flesh with a growl. He froze for two heartbeats, then as she continued to bite hard right over his heart he started moving again. Hard. Fast. She had to have those hips pistoning into her. Needed him slamming into her core.

  From the guttural sounds, he needed it too. The feel of her teeth sinking into his muscle made her feel invincible. She pulled on his skin, sucking in rhythm to the driving force of his thick, hard cock inside her. The sound of his dick sliding into her moist heat with solid slaps undid her. She growled against his chest as she held on. He went wild. Harmony’s entire body shook as he threw himself into her.

  The guttural sounds of their lovemaking filled the room. He tossed his head back, growling. When her teeth broke through his skin she felt herself come. She tasted the hot, sweet tang of his blood. Harmony knew, without a doubt, she’d c
laimed her mate. His groan filled her senses with searing, sweet heat. He slipped his hand behind her head, keeping her mouth on him. She loosened her grip, licking across the bite to stop the bleeding then met his gaze. Without another word she tilted her head, making her neck vulnerable.

  He struck like a damn snake, latching on to the sensitive area right where her shoulder met her neck. His teeth broke through her skin as his hips slammed into her but she couldn’t draw enough breath to cry out. And then he froze but she could feel his cock pulsing deep within her just as her second orgasm rolled through her body. Gripping his ass tight with both hands, she held him close, her body throbbing where they were joined. She took deep breaths, feeling him licking across the mark he’d made on her. A mating mark.

  She’d started it. She’d wanted him. And she’d taken. They hadn’t discussed it at all but he hadn’t hesitated in returning the mark. According to shifter law, they were as good as married. He raised his head to meet her gaze. Harmony searched his face, looking for any sign that he regretted it, regretted tying himself to one who was Denied.

  All she saw was his beautiful silver-blue eye. Then that smile curved slowly across his face.

  “Gareth…”

  “Harmony…”

  They spoke at the same time. He laughed as he softened inside her. As he slipped out of her they readjusted so they lay side by side. For a moment they just stared at each other. She put her hand over the mark she’d made on his chest. He covered her hand with his.

  “I’m afraid you’re stuck with me now, babe.”

  “Gareth, I’m sorry.” She felt his shock, felt him start to pull away. She threw her leg over his. With strength she didn’t know she had, she rolled him to his back. Once she was sitting astride him she said his name again. “Gareth.”

  She forced his gaze back to her face then smiled. “I’m sorry I didn’t ask you first if this was what you wanted. I know I come with a lot of baggage. A crazy stalker ex, a soon-to-be-first-time-shifter daughter…”

  She shook her head, laughing softly. “I didn’t even think, I just…well, I just acted.”

  She whooshed out a breath as he reversed their positions. Now she stared up at him, his body tight against hers. “Harmony, I love you. I think I’ve loved you since I saw you standing on the side of the road holding that damn tire iron as if it was a weapon. I love Rain as if she was my own. It’s not the Moonlust talking, it’s me. I. Love. You.”

  She laughed then hugged him tightly. “Oh thank god! I love you too. Oh I love you so much!”

  They lay there grinning at each other like lunatics until they heard Rain moving around in the hall. The bathroom door closed. They held still until the shower turned on. He kissed Harmony once, hard and fast, then rolled off her.

  “I made breakfast, but everything’s probably cold now.”

  “It doesn’t matter, that’s what microwaves are for.” She got out of bed, loving that his scent was all over her. A quick sniff told her that hers was all over him. She flinched a bit when her robe hit the mating mark on her neck, but then she grinned. They were mated. For life. She wouldn’t want it any other way.

  He had pulled his jeans on. When he turned to smile at her she saw the mating mark on his chest. Her smile was more of a satisfied smirk. Mine was the only word ricocheting in her brain. He picked the cup of coffee up off the dresser. After taking a sip he brought it to her, kissing her before handing it to her.

  “I’ll go heat up breakfast. You might need to talk to Rain, tell her what’s happened between us.” Gareth jerked his chin toward the bathroom where water still ran.

  Harmony hesitated. “Do you think we should wait until after the Gathering? She’s already got so much on her mind…”

  “I think you should tell her now. She’ll know something’s different between us and I don’t want her to think I’ve hurt you in any way.”

  “You’re probably right.” She hugged him with one arm then stepped back. She took a sip of the coffee. He’d fixed it just the way she always drank it. He winked at her before he left the bedroom, whistling.

  Taking a deep breath, Harmony leaned against the doorframe. She snagged a piece of bacon from the plate he’d left on the dresser. She realized she was starving. When she looked down the plate was empty. Frowning because she couldn’t remember exactly what she’d just eaten, she finished her coffee. She had just about two minutes of peace to toss on her robe and grab her slippers before the shower shut off in the bathroom. Taking a deep breath, she expelled it slowly as she waited to talk to her daughter. How on earth did she tell her what had just happened?

  Rain jumped a little when she opened the door. “Jeez, Mom! You scared the crap out of me.”

  “Sorry, sweetie. Can we talk a minute?” Harmony hadn’t even been aware of moving into the hallway. Where was her mind?

  “Can it wait until breakfast? I’m so hungry and I smelled bacon as soon as I woke up.” Rain looked as though she expected a scolding.

  “No, hon. But this shouldn’t take too long. Please? You aren’t in any trouble.” She nodded toward Rain’s room. She followed her anxious child into the bedroom to sit down with her on the bed.

  “Rain, you like Gareth, right?”

  “Duh.” Rain rolled her eyes then shook her head. “Yes, Mom. I like him. We’ve already had this conversation. I like him and I’m okay with the two of you…well, with you sleeping together. We really need to soundproof my room though because knowing you’re in there together and hearing it are two different things!”

  Harmony couldn’t stop the blush that rose in her face, the heat of it making the mark on her neck sting a bit. Taking a deep breath, she tried to figure out a way to tell her daughter that she now had a stepfather.

  “Hon, I love Gareth and he loves me so…”

  When she paused, Rain’s entire face melted into a huge smile. “Oh my god! Are you guys getting married? Can I be your maid of honor? That’s so freaking cool! That means he’ll be here permanently, right? ‘Cause I know that wolves, well the animal ones, anyway, mate for life and he’s a wolf, so…”

  “Rain, slow down…” Harmony laughed at her excitement. “Honey, shifters are a little different. I’m hoping I can talk him into a civil ceremony and of course if that happens you’ll be my maid of honor, but sweetie…”

  Taking a deep breath, she spoke as quickly as she could, wanting to get the words out in the open. “Shifters mark their mates and when they do that, it sort of means they’re already married, at least as far as other shifters are concerned. And this morning, well, we both got a little carried away and we marked each other. So we’re already kind of married but that doesn’t change anything. I mean, it changes some things because he will be moving in here and yes, we’ll be together until one or both of us die, but I want you to know that nothing is going to change between you and me. I don’t want you to think that having him here means I love you any less because that couldn’t be further from the truth.”

  She stopped only because Rain leaned forward and hugged her, hard. “Mom, take a breath. Stop. I know I’ve been a total shit and please don’t yell at me for language. I’m glad you guys did this marking thing, whatever it is. He makes you happy and I think you make him happy too, so I’m okay with it. Just…”

  Rain paused and leaned back, taking a deep breath. “What kind of mark are you talking about? And is it someplace that’s going to totally creep me out if I see it?”

  She laughed at her daughter’s scrunched-up face and shook her head. “It’s easier to just show you and no, it shouldn’t creep you out.”

  Pulling aside the neck of her robe, she tilted her head so she could see Rain’s face as her daughter took in the mark on her neck. Rain drew in a deep breath then met her mother’s eyes.

  “Does it hurt?”

  “A little, but that will go away. The mark will stay though.”

  Rain swallowed hard. “Where did you mark him?”

  Gareth tapped on the
door and Harmony smiled. “It’s okay. You can come in.”

  He stepped into the room. Harmony watched as Rain’s gaze zeroed in on the mark on his chest. He never took his eyes off Rain as he moved closer to Harmony to run his hand over her shoulders.

  “You okay with this, pup? With me being a part of your life now?”

  Rain looked hard at him then back at her mother. She took a deep breath and nodded. “Yeah, but you guys have got to have a real wedding. Human style. That’s not negotiable!”

  She recognized the mulish look on her daughter’s face. Harmony looked quickly up at him to see his reaction. When she saw his smile, she relaxed and stood, wrapping her arm around his waist as he kept his around her shoulders.

  “Okay, but the two of you will leave me out of the planning. I suck at that kind of stuff. Now. How about some breakfast? I’m about to wither away from lack of food.”

  “Thank god! I thought we were going to have to talk all freaking morning!” Rain led the way out of her room. Harmony leaned into him with a sigh.

  “She’s a great kid, Harmony. She really is.”

  “I know and that constantly amazes me.” They left the bedroom but before they went into the kitchen, she stopped him. “Please promise me you’ll look after her tonight.”

  “You know I will, babe. She’s in good hands.” He kissed her again then went into the kitchen. “Hey, save me some of that!”

  Rain had a biscuit in each hand, one half-gone and two more on her plate. She shook her head. “You snooze, you lose, G-man! This is mine!”

  With a playful growl he leaped into the air, covering the distance between them in a second. He yanked the uneaten biscuit out of her hand, stuffing the whole thing into his mouth. Rain stood there open-mouthed for a minute then looked at her mother who was already laughing. Rain joined in while Gareth grinned unrepentantly as he finished the biscuit.