by Iris Abbott
“Does that mean Julie’s a vampire too?”
“No, we think it was part of the evil god’s curse. All Vampires and shifters are male. Their mates can share their longevity, but are never changed or transformed themselves.”
Scarlet let out a quick breath of relief. “So Julie’s not a vampire. She’s human like me.”
“Well not exactly,” Mitch told her. “Your new friends are all human, but they are also witches. They are obviously not the wicked witches of folklore, instead they are open to the powers of the magical universe and they are able to cast spells. Brittany is descended from the most powerful family of magic to exist. She is the most powerful witch I’ve ever met, except for her grandmother Brianna who is still alive.”
Scarlet slumped a little. Nothing or no one was as it seemed in this town. The man she loves had kept an important secret from her, and so had her new best friends. This was a lot more to take in than she’d been expecting. “I love you Mitch, I would never be afraid of you. How could I? You’ve saved my life twice now. I am hurt however that you couldn’t share such an important part of yourself with me as soon as we became intimately involved.”
She disentangled herself from Mitch and stood next to the bed looking at him. “I need time alone to think about this.” Mitch started to speak and she raised a hand. “I’m not afraid of you and I’m not running, but I am going back to my cottage. Linden is no longer a threat and I just want to be back amongst my own things. While I’m there I’ll be able to process everything.” She looked at Mitch with imploring eyes. “Please Mitch I have to do this. Give me the space I need.”
Mitch watched her practically run from his bedroom. They were connected he knew it and deep down she knew it too. He’d give her time, but patience had never been his best virtue. It was already testing every ounce of willpower he had to let her go. He waited five minutes and then he followed her to the guest bedroom where most of her things were still located. “I’ll be downstairs. Let me know when you’re ready and I’ll give you a ride back to the cottage.”
Scarlet started to protest, but thought better of it. It would be a little scary going back there by herself after what had happened on her last stopover. “She gave him a halfhearted smile. “Thanks Mitch. I’d really appreciate that. I’ll be down in a couple of minutes.” She kept stuffing things into her suitcase. Finally she looked around one last time to make sure she wasn’t leaving anything behind. She didn’t know when she’d be back. Scarlet brushed away a few tears and hurried from the room.
SIX
Valentine’s Day was finally here! Scarlet had chosen this day to show Mitch exactly how much she loved him. Excitement was all around her, but nothing could outshine the glow that came from Scarlet. It had been almost two weeks since she’d moved back into her cottage. She’d done a lot of soul searching. Scarlet was ready to let Mitch know that she wanted to be a part of his life and she loved everything about him. She handed the heavy gold embossed invitation that had arrived by special courier to the attendant at the gate. Then Scarlet handed her car over to the valet for parking.
She recognized several members of Mitch’s pack roaming around and knew they were working security for the masquerade ball. She now understood her friends’ obsessive need for the best protection and security. Thanks to the legend Mitch had shared with her. She was thankful that Julie, Selena, and Brittany had taken it upon themselves to send her the invitation. She knew Mitch wasn’t expecting her to be there and that was going to make her surprise and declaration all the sweeter. She almost trembled from the anticipation of what was to come. She took a deep breath and entered the large and imposing stone structure.
She had never seen anything like the beautiful medieval castle that Julie and her vampire husband Alessandro called home. She had no idea something this amazing existed in Maine, but then as she’d learned from Mitch anything was possible in Enigma. She looked around the great hall. Everything was tastefully draped in red and pink. Hearts and roses were the choice decoration of the night, which was only fitting Scarlet decided.
She had left her long hair loose around her face and shoulders. She was wearing a red silk bra and panty set trimmed in lace. A sheer silk scarlet wrap was draped delicately around her body. It barely covered the essentials, but she wasn’t going for modest. She was trying to make a statement of passion, love, and forever. The bite mark on her neck that showed Mitch’s claim was clearly visible to anyone who might think about approaching her. She was off limits to everyone but Mitch and she wanted to make sure the world knew it!
She casually glanced around the room as if she didn’t have a care in the world when actually she was so nervous inside she couldn’t believe she wasn’t literally shaking in her black stiletto heels. She lifted up the faux fur trimmed wolf mask made of gold and securely tied the elastic band under her hair. Then she slowly circled the room oblivious to the stares and whispers that were following her every step.
Anticipation hung heavy in the air. Mitch walked around Russo’s castle taking in every detail as he went. Darn those three witches anyway. Why did they have to throw such a big bash on Valentine’s Day of all days? He scowled at an approaching lady intent on flirting with him and stormed off in the opposite direction. Scarlet should be here with him and he hated the fact that she wasn’t with every fiber in his being. A hush fell over the room. It was followed immediately by excited chatter. Mitch always alert felt and followed up on the change in atmosphere instantly.
He followed the swelling tide of emotions until he caught a glimpse of the red clad woman that was whipping the partygoers’ passions into a bubbling cauldron of intensity. He knew it was Scarlet as soon as he laid eyes on her. His heart swelled along with another unmentionable part of his anatomy. He couldn’t believe what the temptress had dared wear or more like what she hadn’t worn. Almost every curve of her body was on display and his wolf growled at him to publicly stake his claim right there in front of everyone. He practically glided across the room he was walking so fast. Just before he reached Scarlet she turned to face him and he stopped dead in his tracks. She was wearing a mask that was unmistakable in its likeness to a wolf and his mark on her was proudly displayed. He gave her a wolfish grin and opened his arms.
Scarlet could read the surprise and then joy that slipped across Mitch’s face. She’d gotten so good at reading his emotions in such a short period of time. She stepped into his waiting embrace without hesitation. “Mitch I love and accept all of you including your wolf. I want to share your life and be your mate. That is if you still want me?”
Mitch buried one hand in the thick mass of hair at the nape of her neck and used the other to push her lower body even closer to his full-blown erection. “I’ve loved you since the first time we made love. I claim you now and forever as my mate. You are the one woman meant to stand by my side from now to eternity.” He was done with talking. He’d publicly claimed his mate with words. Now there was one more thing to make it official, the mating kiss. The crowd around them faded into the background and then completely disappeared. The center of his world began and ended with Scarlet and all his attention was focused on her.
Scarlet almost melted under the scorching gaze from Mitch’s eyes. She instinctively leaned into him as he lowered his head closer to her. Then she felt the fire in his red-hot kiss. The kiss seemed to go on and on with no end in sight. He probed her lips with his tongue and she opened to allow him entrance. She felt it sweep inside her mouth exploring every inch as it went. Then he slowly removed his tongue and released her lips. She uttered a moan of protest, but she quieted when he pulled her closer. She could feel him nuzzling her neck at the previous bite mark. She felt a teasing nip right before he bit down hard. It should have hurt, but instead of pain her body pulsed with pleasure.
Mitch raised his head and glanced around the room at each member of his pack that was present. He was strengthening the final message to them and everyone else there. Scarlet was now and foreve
r more his mate. His eyes locked with Alessandro, Phillip, and Logan. They would know that security was taken care of, but he was out of there. He scooped Scarlet into his arms and rushed outside to his SUV. He was anxious to get her home and into his bed. He planned to still be making love to her well after the sun came up the next morning. And there was no better time to start that loving than right now!
****
Justin watched his brother and future sister-in-law exit the castle. Mitch looked happier than Justin had ever seen him. He was pleased for his brother, he really was. The alpha finding his mate would only make the pack stronger. There was only one problem.
Justin knew now that his brother was spoken for the busybodies in Enigma would be setting their matchmaking eyes on him. He could almost feel the invisible noose tightening around his neck. He unconsciously ran a finger between his neck and the collar of his shirt, so he could breathe better. Then his earpiece crackled and one of the security workers was asking a question. Justin shook of his personal worries and concentrated on the task at hand. He was it, the one in charge, since Mitch had left the building. There’d be plenty of time to worry about potential mates later, much later as far as Justin was concerned! He loved the single life and he was in no hurry to settle down!
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed LITTLE RED VALENTINE. Keep your eyes open for Justin Gannon’s story coming soon and FAITH’S SHERIFF, book seven and the final story in the Montgomery Family and Friends series. If you enjoyed LITTLE RED VALENTINE please take the time to leave a review at amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com. Feedback is welcome and greatly appreciated. I can be reached at [email protected].
Table of Contents
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
