Alphas of Summer: A collection of shifter romances

by Lia Davis

  “Never, that is who I am. But, I do have a question for you.”

  “Shoot.”

  “Did you know me before? You know, did we ever meet before this time?”

  “No. All I knew about you was that Daryl had a child who was some genius. I assumed you were a boy and was shocked to find out you were—you when we finally met here.”

  She mulled over what he said before saying, “I could say that is sexist, but I know you and that you’d never mean it that way.”

  Asher grabbed her into his arms and planted a kiss on her forehead. “Forgive me just the same. Everything about you is helping me identify and work on biases I didn’t know I had.”

  “My pleasure,” she said laughing. “And on that note, thank you for not calling the cops on me too. You could have used a bias when you learned that a black female was living in your guest house, uninvited.” She paused to consider how that sounded. “That didn’t come out like I thought it would. But, so you know, I did feel bad about squatting on your property.”

  “Thank you for not leaving. From the moment we met, I—no—my dragon knew who you were. I saw it as the cosmic hand of destiny making sure we met. Think about it Daryl, out of all the places you could have ended up; you came directly to my home. I’d say that was fate like a Mofo.”

  “I’d say so too.” Daryl needed to reveal one more thing. “Asher, since we’re being honest, I have to say that every time I hear you talk about Monique, I get jealous. Are you sure nothing ever happened between you two? When you speak of her, it’s like talking about a former lover who’s become a dear friend.”

  His laughter was loud and booming.

  When he’d gotten it out and composed himself enough to speak, he said, “Boy, I cannot wait for you to meet her. No, Monique and I have never had anything more than a sibling type of relationship. There are things about her I’m not at liberty to say. She can tell you if she wants but suffice it to say Monique is particular in the kind of men she’s into. Dragons don’t fit into that mix.”

  “She knows you’re a dragon?”

  “Yes, and she’s fiercely protective of Brock and me. If she likes you, Monique is the most loyal friend and ally you’ll ever have. If not, heaven help you.”

  A shudder rocketed down Daryl’s spine. “What if she doesn’t like me?”

  “That won’t be the case. She was the one to tell me you were my mate. She’s got this gift of knowing things. And, she always said I needed a strong woman like her, but willing to put up with me to be my mate. She sees you as a woman after her own heart. Like I said, she’s eager to meet you too.”

  “I see.” Daryl still wasn’t sold on the joys of meeting Monique.

  “I’ll admit she can have the demeanor of a prickly pear, but when she’s for you, you know it. And trust me, Daryl, she’s definitely for you.”

  His assurances helped assuage some of her apprehension but not all of it. Thoughts of Brock flashed in her mind’s eye. A sense of longing and need to see the child came over her. Picking up Asher’s arm to check the time on his watch, it was less than an hour before camp let out for the day.

  “What?” he asked.

  “It’s time to get ready to go get my baby. Come on.”

  “Brock?” Looking at his watch, he tossed back, “But we still have almost forty-five minutes. Your baby will be fine.”

  “Maybe, but I won’t. I need him to see us as soon as the day is done. Asher, I love you and Brock. That little guy wormed his way deep into my heart the first time I met him. Now that we’ve had this talk, I have a huge urge to get him and shower love all over him. I might be overstepping here, but I need Brock as much as he needs me.”

  “What about me, I need you too?”

  “Oh, hush up, Dragon. You’re my biggest need and want—always will be. Where Brock is concerned, I get it. He’s looking to fill the hole his mother left. I get it because I was looking to replace the hole my father left. We were brought together to heal too. You help me heal as a woman and Brock helps me heal as a child.”

  Asher smiled and led them back toward the main house. “Makes perfect sense to me.”

  “Mom, Dad!” Brock yelled as he took off, snatching his hand from the female camp worker. She yelled after him with no luck. The kid had zoned in on Daryl and Asher, and there was no stopping him.

  When he reached them, Brock ran into Daryl’s waiting arms. She swooped him up, planting a big kiss on his flushed cheek.

  “I missed you so much today!” she said. “Did you have a great time?”

  Still a little out of breath from his Olympic sprint, Brock breathed hard as he said, “Yeah! We had so much fun.” Kissing her on her cheek, he said, “Mom, I made this for you.”

  Brock thrust a figure made of pipe cleaners attached to a cardboard tube. Daryl took it and smiled.

  “Now, this is cool. Thanks, my love.” It was thoughtful how he’d given her his day project, and she knew this was a big thing for him to do. “Does it still work?”

  Asher looked from the figure to them, confusion lacing his gorgeous features and said, “One, I’m confused. What is it? And, two, why didn’t I get one? Are you always going to give Daryl all the cool stuff?”

  Brock giggled happy and content being in Daryl’s arms.

  “Oh Dad, it’s a rocket. I gave you one long time ago. It’s in the drawer back home where you keep all my gifts from school. And yes.”

  “Yes, what?” Asher said, still not following.

  Brock laughed again, loving how he had his father so confused. “Yes, I’m always going to give mom all the cool stuff. I have to make up for all the time I didn’t have her with me. Isn’t that right, mom?” he asked, huge, excited green eyes making her heart melt.

  “Sure is. I want all the gifts. You’re my special little boy, and I love you so much.”

  Daryl gave him another kiss as Asher led them back to the waiting Range Rover.

  Back home, Brock talked a mile a minute telling them about his day. When Daryl made lasagna as part of celebrating his day at camp, Asher and Brock inhaled the dish, leaving her one serving.

  “So much for left overs,” she said, looking at the empty dish.

  “I told you, we’re dragons. We can eat,” Asher said, coming to take the dish from her. “Leave it. You cooked, I’ll clean.”

  “Dad? She knows about us?” Brock asked, coming to stand close and loop his arms around Daryl’s thigh.

  “Yes, and she still loves us,” Asher said, tugging on the little boy’s nose.

  “Brock, didn’t I tell you I loved dragons?” she asked, liking how great it felt having her new family around her.

  “Yeah, but I thought you meant dragons like Charlie.”

  “I did, but I love real dragons too. Now upstairs with you. It’s time for your bath and then to bed,” she said, noticing it was close to his bedtime. Brock obeyed rushing up the stairs. To Asher, who was loading the dishwasher and wiping down counters, she said, “When you finish, meet me upstairs. After Brock goes down for the night, you’re going down too.”

  A wicked grin on his kissable face played with her ability to think straight as Asher said, “Ah yeah, I plan to go down on you so hard, you beg me to stop.” With a slap on her ass, he said, “Get ready because when I get you alone tonight, I want you calling me Daddy.”

  Thank You!

  Thank you for reading Dragon’s Curvy Dilemma. I’m beyond excited to be able to share this story with you. It means a lot to me and I appreciate you. If you enjoyed it, please go right now and write a review. Think of it as clapping for a performance you enjoyed. Also let me know your thoughts and feedback! I want to give you what you want to read.

  About the Author

  Mychal Daniels is a best-selling Romance author writing in the Science Fiction, Paranormal, Fantasy romance realms. She’s determined to bring you strong, sassy heroines that can take care of their damn selves and the sexy, sensitive alpha heroes who love them.

 
Newsletter: http://MychalDaniels.com/newsletter

  MychalDaniels.com

  CADE & ANNA

  Le Beau Series HEA, Book 1

  V.A. Dold

  To all of my readers and fans of the Le Beau Series, I hope you enjoy the new HEA (Happy Ever After) novella series. I appreciate you more than I can say.

  Thank you to my friends and Sisters of the heart, family. The Ya ya’s. You cheer me on and give me the energy to keep writing.

  Thank you to all the Bayou Babes who support me every day. Especially, Karen Hall, for your input and ideas for the painting scene.

  XXOO

  V.A.

  Note to Reader

  Please be aware, this novella is a follow-up to Cade and takes place three months after Cade ends. Timelines will not be chronological to the Le Beau Series but take place during both Stefan & Thomas.

  Enjoy Cade and Anna’s Happy Ever After.

  Love you all,

  V.A. Dold

  Chapter 1

  Anna sat on the edge of the bed to put her tennis shoes on. Try as she might, there was no reaching the laces with her six-month pregnant belly in the way. Not only was she the size of a small elephant, but her feet also looked like water balloons.

  I can’t believe it’s come to this already.

  Growling, she kicked them off and returned to her closet for a pair of slip-on loafers. She wondered for a moment if a shifter baby was just plain bigger than a human baby. Twenty-some years ago when she had Thomas and John, she’d managed to make it to her eighth month before her waistline got out of control. But here she was only two-thirds along and as big as a house. Even her doctor was concerned and had her scheduled for an ultrasound today.

  “Cher, we need to get moving,” Cade called from the front door. “We’re going to be late. Would you like me to put your pillow in the car or pack you a snack?”

  Anna rolled her eyes. “I won’t kill him. I won’t kill him,” she repeated over and over.

  Cade was driving her nuts! Damn, she knew his behavior stemmed directly from their mating bond, but the lovable man was worse than an old, wet hen. In his opinion, a rare, ancient relic couldn’t be more delicate.

  "It’s not like I’m made of glass and I’ll break, for crying out loud,” she mumbled.

  Somehow in the few minutes it took to change her shoes, Cade managed to load the car with her orthopedic pillow, and a picnic basket filled with roasted chicken, crackers, fresh fruit, and bottled water.

  “Are you planning on being gone all day?” Anna chided, raising an eyebrow at him.

  Cade frowned, a look of total befuddlement on his face. “No. Why?”

  “Never mind,” Anna grumbled as she got into the car. “If you haven’t gotten it by now, you’re not going to.”

  Cade hustled to the driver’s seat and leaned over to check her seatbelt before he belted himself in and started the car.

  “Really?” Anna snarled, raising both brows this time. “I love you dearly, but you need to stop, or I’m leaving you home and taking Rose with me.”

  Cade looked sheepish, blushing an adorable shade of red, and kissed her cheek. “Sorry, mon amour. I know I get a little overprotective. I’ll try to do better.”

  Cade was uneasy. Anna had been silent most of the way to town. “Is something bothering you, cher?”

  She turned toward him with concerned eyes. “I’ve never asked about when a shifter child first becomes able to change to their wolf form. Tell me Dr. Marjorie isn’t going to see a puppy on the ultrasound.”

  Cade struggled to maintain a serious expression. “No, cher. She will see a human baby. Our child won’t shift until he or she is around one-year-old.”

  “Thank goodness.”

  Cade lucked out when he found an open parking space near the door. Glancing at the love of his life, he decided to keep the knowledge he would have circled until a car pulled out to himself. He didn’t want her walking any further than she had to, and if he’d done that, she would have gotten annoyed with him all over again.

  He shook his head at his own behavior. He knew he needed to relax. Even his father had pulled him aside the other night for a ‘pep’ talk. Telling himself to behave, he helped her from the car.

  “Is there anything special we need to do when you check in? I’ve never seen an ultrasound done before.”

  “No, nothing special. They’ll call us when it’s our turn.”

  Cade nodded, pressing his lips together to keep them from flapping with the hundred questions he wanted to ask. Besides, he was pretty sure the doctor would cover everything he wanted to know during the appointment, and asking Dr. Marjorie was a lot safer.

  His mother had told him at least one hundred times that both Anna and the baby were perfectly healthy. All he had to do was look at her glowing skin to know they were doing great. Still, he wouldn’t be able to take a deep breath until this appointment was over.

  Why would the doctor want an ultrasound if there weren't something wrong?

  Cade. Relax.

  Sorry, cher. I didn’t mean to think so loudly.

  Anna smiled at him as she took his hand. Cade was genuinely worried, but there wasn’t anything she could say to ease his mind. She hoped he would relax after this doctor visit. He was stressing her out, not to mention how little sleep he was getting. To be totally honest, she was as worried about his health as he was about hers.

  The instant she’d told him she was expecting, he’d developed a nervous tick. He would bounce his knee like a hyper teenager. She could gauge his level of worry by the speed of the bounce. And today he was generating enough energy with his knee to light a small city.

  “Anna Le Beau?” a nurse called from the doorway leading to the exam rooms.

  “Here!” Cade yelled, louder than was necessary.

  Anna tried to hide her giggle as the nurse chuckled with an amused twinkle in her eye. No doubt she dealt with anxious fathers every day.

  “Your weight is good, and your blood pressure looks fabulous. Put this gown on with the opening to the front so the doctor can do the ultrasound. The doctor will be with you in a few minutes.” Halfway out the door, she turned and winked at Anna. “I’ll have a chair brought in for your husband. Daddies often get wobbly knees when they see their baby for the first time. We can’t have him in the hospital with a concussion, now, can we?”

  Cade glanced back and forth between the nurse and Anna, trying to figure out if she was serious or joking. Crap, she looks serious. Well, he would show her. He wasn’t one of those weak, fainting men.

  Thankfully the doctor didn’t make him wait too long. Just as he was about to start pacing, the door opened, and the nurse returned with a tiny gray-haired woman and a chair.

  She must be the doctor.

  “Anna, how are you today?”

  “I feel great.”

  “This handsome devil must be the daddy.”

  Anna laughed at his shocked expression. “Yes, this is my husband, Cade.”

  “Hello, Cade,” Dr. Marjorie said shaking his hand. “Congratulations.”

  “Thank you, Doctor.”

  “You look a little worried, Cade, so let me put your concerns to rest. I’m doing the ultrasound to check on the baby’s progress and verify the due date. That’s it. Most spouses come in nervous with crazy ideas rolling around in their heads that something terrible is wrong. So you can relax, the baby and Anna are perfectly healthy.”

  Cade nodded and expelled a huge breath he’d been holding.

  Thank Goddess!

  “Okay, let's get this started. Sorry if the gel is a little cold."

  Dr. Marjorie moved the wand back and forth as she silently stared at her computer monitor. Just when Cade was about to lose his mind, she spoke.

  "As I look things over and record measurements, I’ll take some screenshots for you to keep. Don’t worry. I’ll explain everything I’m seeing in a moment."

  The doctor held the wand in place and increased the vol
ume. Instantly, the rapid fluttering of a heartbeat filled the room. Cade’s eyes grew huge.

  “Is that…”

  “That’s the sound of your daughter’s strong, healthy heart,” Dr. Marjorie said with a grin.

  Cade stared into Anna’s eyes, squeezing her hand tighter. “A daughter? We’re having a girl?”

  Tears of joy welled in Anna’s eyes. “Yeah, I guess we are.”

  Cade looked at the doctor. “Are you sure? How can you tell?”

  Marjorie adjusted the screen so he could see the image better. “See right here? Those are her legs. Do you see anything between them?”

  The sight of his baby, larger than life on the computer screen, left him speechless. All he could manage was a shake of his head. As he stared at his daughter, a loud gasp erupted from his lips. She moved! He just watched his baby move. A single, silent tear rolled down his cheek as he was struck by the immense emotions bombarding him. His daughter hadn’t even been born yet, and he was in love with her already.

  Anna watched him closely as he sucked in a shaky breath and listed to the side. “Babe, you need to sit down. I don’t want you to faint, and I promise you’ll still be able to see from there.”

  Without taking his eyes off the monitor, Cade lowered himself to the chair. Little lines began to appear as the doctor took measurements, and then it was over. He wanted to bare his teeth and growl in protest when the image froze, and the live feed of his daughter was taken from him.

  Dr. Marjorie removed the ultrasound wand from Anna’s abdomen and wiped the gel away. Then she reached over to a small photo printer along the wall. “I printed several images for you.”

  “Thank you,” Anna said, as Cade took the pictures the doctor held out to him with an expression of reverence on his face.