The Beta's Heart (Wilde Creek Book 8)

by R. E. Butler

  “That’s pretty damn cool. Did your parents do it?”

  “No. The couple has to be mated, and my parents never considered each other as mates.”

  “Would the blessing still work if you opened a portal to the lake instead of walking?”

  She elbowed him with a smile. “Getting tired already?”

  “I’m just curious.”

  “Although we think of walking to the lake as symbolic, the blessing spell would work if we portaled, but the vision wouldn’t come.”

  He hummed. “What’s the vision like?”

  “I don’t actually know how far into the future it goes or what we’ll see exactly, but I believe the visions only show good things.”

  He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the top. “Having a fairy for a mate is incredible. I thought being a shifter was magical but being around you and real magic is amazing.”

  “I think having a wolf shifter for a mate is pretty magical.”

  He winked.

  For the rest of the walk, they talked about living in Wilde Creek full time. Aside from wanting to set up one of the spare bedrooms as a nursery, she wanted to work in the backyard to make it into an oasis for their family, with a garden and a huge tree.

  “Why a big tree?” he asked.

  “For a swing for our baby. And shade for picnics,” she said, smiling at the image in her mind of their little one sitting on a red gingham blanket under the shade of a tree.

  He stopped and looked down at her, his eyes luminous with emotion. “I love you so much, Kismet. You’re the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me.”

  “I love you, too.”

  When they reached the end of their journey, Kismet stopped at the edge of the lake and stared out over the smooth surface. The bright moon made everything glow, and the sky was lit with a million stars. The mountain rose like a dark shadow beyond the lake. Ren set the bag down and opened it, handing her the shovel.

  “You never said what the shovel is for,” he said.

  “We have to dig up one of the gossamer rose bushes and bring it to the lake.”

  “Where are the bushes?”

  “At the bottom of the mountain,” she said.

  He picked up the pack again and they followed the curve of the lake to the base of the mountain. She used the flashlight on her phone to illuminate the plants before them.

  “This one,” she said, as she stopped the light on a rose bush full of blooms.

  “Let me dig it up,” he said, trading her the bag for the shovel.

  “Just be careful of the roots. The plant is sensitive and will die fast if the roots aren’t left intact.”

  He nodded, pecked her cheek, and put the tip of the shovel into the ground, which was a mixture of sand and dirt. He pushed down with his foot, sending the shovel into the ground. Then he lifted the shovel and repeated the motion in a wide circle around the shrub. He slowly began to work the shovel under the plant until it lifted free of the ground. She knelt next to him and held the bag open as he pulled the plant from the ground and settled it gently into the bag.

  “The blooms smell really sweet, like sugar. Not like the way roses usually smell.”

  “I think that’s why she used them for her baths.”

  “Will we have to come back here and replant it again after the ceremony?”

  “No, we’re going to take it home with us.”

  “Really?”

  “Yep. It’s ours now.”

  “Will it survive in my realm or do we have to leave it here in this realm?”

  “I’ll make sure it will thrive in our realm,” she said.

  He grinned.

  They carried the plant back to the edge of the lake. Ren set the bag on the ground while she took off her shoes and socks and cuffed her jeans up to her knees. He followed suit, rolling his pant legs up.

  “Make a cup with your hands,” she said.

  When he did as she asked, she gently plucked a bloom from the plant and peeled the petals off, setting them in his cupped hands. She removed two more blooms, until his hands were full of the pretty pink petals.

  She cupped her hands under his. “Now we walk into the water.”

  “How far?”

  “Just a little ways.”

  They walked together, their hands touching, until the warm water rose to the middle of her calf. She wiggled her toes in the sandy bottom and looked up at her mate as she let loose of her wings and they extended from her back to increase her power.

  “First I’m going to cast the blessing spell.”

  “What do I do?”

  “Just concentrate on the words of the spell. You don’t have to do anything else.”

  The words flowed out of her in the ancient fae language as she cast the spell, blessing their unborn child in a way that was wholly unique to the fae. The blessing was for a long and happy life for their child, that he or she would grow up strong and honorable, and that no foe would ever stand against him or her.

  She held Ren’s gaze when the spell ended. “Now we throw the petals into the water,” she said. Together, they tossed the flowers into the water, and they immediately glowed. She linked one of her hands with his and said, “Now we’ll scoop up some petals with our free hands and lift them out of the water.”

  He followed suit as she dipped her hand into the water and moved it around to catch some petals. They lifted their hands from the water and the petals burst like fireworks and turned to ash, lifting into the air and swirling around them. The ash settled over them as they faced each other and linked their free hands together. The ash glowed as it settled on their exposed skin. Her vision dimmed and then brightened suddenly, and in her mind’s eye, she saw the future.

  Two children raced through the backyard of their home toward a towering oak. They were twins, one boy and one girl. The boy had Ren’s blond hair and the girl had Kismet’s dark hair. Wings the same pure white with copper tips as her own erupted from the girl’s back as the two reached swings hanging from a low tree limb. The boy helped his sister onto the swing and gave her a good push, and then took the free swing. His lips were parted in a wide smile, and Kismet could see his eyes were amber, a telltale sign he was a wolf.

  The vision disappeared slowly, and before she knew it, she was crying. Ren pulled her close. “Oh, sweetheart. Twins?”

  She sniffled and lifted her head, cupping his face and drawing him down for a kiss. “Yes, twins! A wolf and a fae. Can you believe it?”

  He grinned. “You know it! We’re both amazing. Of course our kids would be, too. Are you happy, sweetheart?”

  “So, so much.”

  “Me, too.”

  They stood embracing in the water for a long time. She wasn’t sure how much time had passed during the quiet, sweet time, only that she was certain she’d never felt closer to her truemate.

  When she’d come through the portal on the full moon, she’d never imagined she’d be in this place with her mate so soon. But here she was. Deliriously happy and ready for the next chapter of their lives together.

  “Love you, sweet fairy,” he whispered roughly.

  “I love you, too, my wolf mate.”

  * * *

  On the walk home, Ren felt a riot of emotions. He’d never expected his sweetheart was carrying twins. It made sense since she was a twin herself, but it was still a sweet, wonderful surprise.

  Their joined hands swung gently between them as they made their way home, the rose bush safely tucked into the bag on his back.

  “Is it too early to talk about names?” he asked. In their shared vision, their son looked just like he had as a young boy, and their daughter looked just like Kismet.

  “I was actually just thinking that myself. I don’t think it’s too early.”

  “Do you have any ideas?”

  She chuckled. “Well, I used to love the name Rose, but then with the queen being named Rose, it’s become one of those really common names among my people, so it fell o
ut of favor with me.”

  “Any other flower names? Like…geez, my mind just went blank on types of flowers.”

  “There’s a lot of them.”

  “What’s your favorite besides roses?”

  She hummed in thought. “Well, I kind of like every flower, but I love how lilies smell, they’re so fragrant.”

  “I like it. Lily’s perfect.”

  “How about Lily Marian?” she offered.

  Ren stopped walking and when Kismet stopped and turned to face him, he hugged her. “That’s so sweet of you.”

  “I think it’s important to honor family members, and I like your mom’s name.”

  “She’ll be over the moon when she hears.” Ren could imagine his mother telling all her friends about her namesake. She’d never stop smiling.

  “What about our son?” Kismet asked, resting her head over his heart.

  He let his mind wander, thinking about the lake and the blessing spell. It had been an amazing night. Seeing the vision of their children had made things feel very real to him. “How about Rune?”

  “Rune?” she lifted her head to look at him.

  “Rune is another word for spell, right? You cast a blessing spell on our children. Lily for the flower, Rune for the spell.”

  “I love that name, it’s perfect.”

  “Rune E’lahn.”

  “Really?” she asked.

  “Of course. He’s half fairy, and it’s a wonderful way to honor the fae side of his heritage. Plus, your dad is a badass.”

  She giggled. “He sure is, but not as much of a badass as my wonderful mate.”

  “You might be a little biased, but I don’t mind.”

  “Rune and Lily,” she said, leaning back and resting her hand on her belly. “We’ll get to meet them in about eight and a half months.”

  “The time will fly, and then we’ll be a family.”

  “I can’t wait.”

  “Feel like celebrating?” he asked.

  “Definitely,” she said, lifting her hand and opening a portal.

  “You don’t want to walk the rest of the way?” he asked, scooping her up into his arms and stepping through the portal into their bedroom.

  She closed the portal and kissed his cheek with a soft growl. “Are you kidding? We have a lot to celebrate and there’s no reason to waste time walking.”

  “I love how you think,” he said, setting her on the bed. She stretched out on her back and smiled like the vixen she was.

  “I love you.”

  He set the bag with the rose bush on the floor and straightened. “I love you, sweetheart.” He glanced at the rose bush. “Do we need to take care of it?”

  “It can wait a little bit while we celebrate,” she said. “I know the perfect spot in the yard for it.” She beckoned him to her and he leaned over, planting his hands on the mattress and nuzzling her throat, inhaling her sweet scent.

  He kissed her, letting go of everything but the feeling of his mate under him, her soft skin and the sweet words from her lips as they raced toward the heavens and tumbled, well-sated, back to earth. He had his very own angel in his arms, a petite temptress with a sinful smile and a heart as big as the full moon.

  He’d never been happier than he was at this moment, with his truemate in his arms and their babies on the way.

  Chapter 15

  Stef waited at the edge of the woods across the street from Ren’s house. It had taken only a few days of watching to figure out the route and frequency of the males who were on patrol in Wilde Creek. Avoiding them was easy, it had just taken some time. Not that she felt all too patient, but it would be worth the wait in the long run.

  Once they’d figured out the patrols, she’d been able to send in two of her new pack members to place a few wireless cameras around the exterior of the house. Ren and the female she’d come to think of as an imposter-mate hadn’t been around all week. Stef didn’t know where they were, but time was running out for her and she needed to speed things up.

  They’d been surreptitiously sending out news that their pack was recruiting members. Their ranks had swollen swiftly with males who, for one reason or another, were on their own. The problem was that her hold on alphaship of the pack was just as quickly slipping away. Angry males, hungry for retaliation against those who had wronged them, weren’t interested in holding out for Ren to realize that she was the right female for him and to take his rightful place at her side, so she could go about getting her own revenge against Isaiah.

  She kept her hold on her position through sheer force of will, and thanks to her original members, especially Tanner, who refused to let anyone get close to her, the new members were willing to do her dirty work. She’d promised them she’d help them get revenge if they first helped her to secure Ren as her mate and then pull a coup on Isaiah. There would be males and females who would die when the coup happened, but most would fall in line, and she’d be alpha female of an enormous pack that could, and would, do whatever she wished.

  She was still pissed at the Wilde Creek alpha. Maybe after taking over Dorlan, they’d move on to Wilde Creek. Acksel the Asshole would fall as easily as Isaiah, she bet.

  Tanner sighed. “Why are we doing this again?”

  It was tempting to just punch him, but she resisted the urge. Barely. “You know why.”

  “I get that you want to be alpha female so you need a male, because the rest of us males are jackasses who want a male to be the leader. But Ren is clearly not on the market anymore. All you’re doing is chasing after a male who doesn’t want you.”

  “He’s the right one for the job.”

  “There are others.” Tanner jerked his thumb over his shoulder. She didn’t have to look where he pointed to know the newest members of the pack were there, far enough away to not hear their words, but close enough to be called when needed.

  She turned on her cousin with a snarl. “I won’t tie myself forever to someone I’m not attracted to. Ren was mine first, and he’ll be mine again. You’re either with me or against me, Tanner, so choose right the fuck now.”

  “I said I’m in,” he said, giving her a look of exasperation. “I’m just pointing out that you’re losing sight of the goal here…to take over the Dorlan pack.”

  She gnashed her teeth and turned back to the house. “I’ve lost sight of nothing. I’ll put down the bitch, claim Ren as my alpha mate, and kill Isaiah. Then we might just come back to Wilde Creek and put down the alpha of this town. Eventually, I’ll be alpha of the largest pack in the country, and then I won’t need an alpha male. Ren will fall in line or he’ll fall, plain and simple. I will rule on my own. One way or the other.”

  “I think you’ve lost your mind, Stef.”

  “And?”

  “And I’m still in, I’m just pointing out the obvious.”

  “You’re an asshole.”

  “Maybe, but I’m the only one in this pack that’s one hundred percent with you. The others are anxious. If this fails, you’ll have to pick another male to rule with you or face that you’re going to be expelled from your own pack.”

  “They can try,” she said, her vision hazing and her claws tingling as her wolf urged her to show her dominance. She’d go to her grave before she let anyone take her pack from her. Ren was the key to retaining control, and he’d tow the line or he’d be the first to fall.

  “It’s time,” she said, turning to the males behind her. “Be quiet but be destructive, and leave the front door open when you're finished."

  “Our pleasure, Alllllphaaaa,” Teddy, a large male with a scar from a pack battle over his left eye, said as he walked by. He looked down at her as he passed, stretching out her title in a sarcastic way, a passive-aggressive jab at her.

  She ignored him, watching as the group stole across the dark road and broke into Ren’s home.

  “He’s trouble,” Tanner said.

  “He’ll behave or he’ll die,” she promised.

  * * *

  Re
n slowly woke to a buzzing sound. It reminded him of the time a woodpecker took up residence in a tree outside his bedroom. He rolled over and blinked, remembering quickly he wasn’t in his house, but in Kismet’s. He wasn’t sure they even had woodpeckers in the fae realm.

  Fumbling for his cell on the nightstand, he lifted it over his face and stared at the screen. Swiping his thumb, he drew it to his ear and said, “Hey, Acksel.”

  “Sorry to wake you,” Acksel’s voice was deep and angry.

  Ren sat up. “No problem. What’s going on?”

  “Zander and Caleb were on patrol and went by your house. The front door was open, and man, I’m sorry but your house is trashed.”

  “Fuck, seriously?”

  “What’s wrong?” Kismet asked.

  Ren pulled the phone away and said, “Someone broke into the house.”

  “It was that woman, wasn’t it?”

  “Probably.” Ren let out a growl. “Thanks for the call, Acksel. I’ll head home right away.”

  “I’m on my way, too. I’ll meet you there.”

  “Thanks,” Ren said. He ended the call and let out a full-blown snarl as he stood. He wanted to punch something.

  “I’m coming with you,” Kismet said. She hopped out of bed and opened her dresser.

  “You don’t have to, sweetheart.” He found his clothes from the night before and tugged them on. It had been their last night in the fae realm. Their plan had been to sleep in and head back to Wilde Creek around lunchtime. Now, they had to rush home and the sun hadn’t even completely risen yet.

  “Of course I do! It’s my house, too, right?”

  He scrubbed a hand through his hair and pushed his cell into his back pocket. “I’m sorry. I’m just…this is utter bullshit.”

  “I know. But I want to be with you.”

  He held out his hand and she joined him, settling close against him and resting her head on his chest. “I want you with me. I’m just not sure what we’re going to be walking into, and I might want to punch something. I’d rather you not see me lose it.”