The Snow Leopard's Christmas Surprise

by Emilia Hartley

  A funny look filled Neveah’s guarded eyes at that moment, and Amara was startled to find that Nova’s mother no longer intimidated her. She was just another woman looking after the people that she loved. She didn’t have to like the fact that she considered Amara a threat, but she could respect it.

  Neveah pursed her lips for a few moments. “Perhaps I have misjudged you, human. I thought for sure you would go singing from the rooftops, especially if your sister was involved. But I was wrong. And I do not make that statement lightly.”

  Amara’s cheeks flushed with pleasure. That was probably the nicest thing Neveah had ever said to her. Even if she had called her ‘human.’ At least it was progress. “Well, Sadie never would have believed me, anyway. Humans that can turn into wolves? I hardly believed it myself. She’d think I was nuts and try to have me committed.”

  “Yes, I suppose that’s true.” Neveah leaned back and just the ghost of a smile played over her lips. “You surprise me, human. And I am rarely surprised.”

  Chapter 12

  A few hours later, Amara parked her car outside of the police station and eased herself out of the vehicle. She stared up at building. She couldn’t believe it. She was going to be a cop. Okay, a deputy. But still. She was going to be a cop. Her dad would have been so proud.

  Though she was nervous, she made herself take the necessary steps forward. With one shaking hand on the metal bar handle, she pulled the door open and stepped inside.

  What she had expected was the hustle and bustle of a fast-paced station that she had experienced with her father when he was on the force when she was a child. What she got, however, was much, much different.

  Though the air of tension was incredibly thick, enough so that she was sure that old cliché was applicable and she could cut it with a knife, there was hardly anybody around. Madge, the old receptionist who had probably been there for a hundred years, was drinking what was most likely her sixth cup of coffee that morning and pouring over a pile of crime scene photos. Alec, the only deputy the force still had, was nervously tapping his pencil against his desk and reading some kind of report. And Mac was locked up in his office, pacing back and forth across the tiny room.

  Amara smiled at Madge as she passed, but the old battle ax hardly even looked up. The only indication she gave at all to acknowledge Amara’s presence was just the hint of a nod. Alec, on the other hand, looked up at her as if he were going to scream or cry or something. The small town of Strathford had received their share of dead bodies over the years, especially when it came to wolf attacks, but to be honest, those attacks were few and far between. Then a few years ago, long after Amara’s own attack, those deaths became more and more frequent. The stress appeared to have taken a toll on the law enforcement of the town. Was this seriously all that was left of the Strathford Police Department?

  Amara offered Alec a small smile, then proceeded past him to knock on Mac’s closed door. The Sheriff stopped in his tracks and stared at her like a deer in the headlights. She stepped back to let him unlock and open the door.

  “Amara,” Mac breathed. “I’m glad you came.” He scrubbed his hand over his face. “Honestly, I can’t tell you how much this means to me. Your father would be so proud.”

  She took a deep breath. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to be there, or didn’t appreciate the compliment. She did. But it also made her a little uncomfortable. Did she really want to be right in the middle of all of this, given all the secrets she was keeping for the Pack?

  Either way, she and Nova had decided this was the best thing to do for everyone.

  “So?” she asked, raising her arms to indicate the empty station. “Where do we start?”

  “You did what?” Mitchell asked, staring at her as if she’d just sprouted two heads. If he squeezed the glass he was drying any tighter, he was going to break it.

  A small smile crept across Amara’s lips. “I joined the police department.”

  “But…” He stared incredulously at her. “But why?”

  He seemed so perplexed, she wanted to laugh. “Because Mac asked me to. And, truthfully, they could use an extra set of hands.”

  Zoe, who was building a Guinness for one of their regulars, nodded gravely. “Personally, I think it’s a great idea, Mara.”

  Both she and Mitchell stared at her. “You do?” they asked in unison.

  Though she looked a little stung by their surprise, Zoe squared her shoulders. “Yes, I do. You probably know more about the packs in this area than anyone. You basically got obsessed with them in high school after our…well, you know. You’re a great shot with a gun. And the department really is short-handed. Nobody wants to mess with more bodies, especially when they’re all people we know. I think it’s very brave of you to join. Your dad would be proud.”

  That was unexpected, coming from Zoe especially. More than a little touched, heat rushed to Amara’s cheeks, and she was comforted by the red sheen that covered Zoe’s as well. “Thanks. Mac said the same thing. You really think he’d be proud of me?”

  Zoe rolled her eyes. “Of course, I do. The Mayor will probably be sending you flowers.”

  Flowers. Amara frowned. “That reminds me. Have you heard about anybody sending me flowers lately?” Both of them stared at her. Zoe appeared to be annoyed by the question, while Mitch just seemed uncomfortable. Either way, neither of them seemed to know anything about it. Amara resisted the urge to scuff her toe against the floor. “It’s just that, that night after the watch, there was a big bouquet of red roses on my porch. No note. Any idea who they were from?” Both her friends shrugged, and Amara sighed. “Oh well. If you do hear anything, let me know, yeah?” They both nodded their agreement, but Amara couldn’t help but feel disconcerted. Was it her imagination, or had they both looked like they knew something?

  Amara mentally shook herself. Maybe she needed a vacation or something. If she was becoming suspicious of the people she trusted most, perhaps it was all becoming too much for her.

  Something to think about, at least.

  Chapter 13

  Barely a week after Ian’s attack, Nova still hadn’t made any progress discovering the breach. He ran through the forest at break-neck speed, his paws pounding against the earth, sniffing the air as he went. He was searching for any alien scent, any sight, sound or smell that shouldn’t be on this side of the border. So far, he’d had no luck.

  He knew they were out there. He could feel it. In the mental recesses of his brain, he could still hear Kal laughing at him, taunting him, promising there was no way to stop him. There was. He just had to find it.

  Pausing, Nova stuck his nose to the base of a tree. A Valley wolf had been there, and recently. His keen eyes probed the darkness between the branches. It was barely late afternoon, but the sun had already set behind the trees, leaving an eerie glow in its wake.

  There had been two more attacks in the last week. One was a border skirmish that had been easily controlled, but the other included a young boy that had been mauled by a wolf. Amara said the doctors told her he’d survive, but he could tell her new position as town deputy was taking its toll on her. She’d never been so close to it all before.

  And now, it seemed the enemy was taking notice.

  Nova was standing on the edge of the woods, hidden by shadow, a mere fifty feet from Amara’s little house. He could detect her scent on the trail, along with a few other human scents he recognized from his years watching the town, likely her neighbors. But, there were other, more foreign smells mixed in with the familiar that made Nova’s heart sink. The Valley Clan was watching Amara, possibly targeting her.

  It made his blood boil.

  Padding up the steps to Amara’s back door, he transformed back into a man. He felt the familiar itch and tingle of his bones changing shape, of his fur receding back into his skin. He stretched his jaw muscles as his snout once more contorted back into a human face. Usually, he would pull on the pants he kept stashed for just such occasions, but he wa
s too worked up to bother.

  Naked, Nova threw open the door with a crash and strode purposefully through the kitchen. Amara let out a startled gasp in the living room where she had been working out, but Nova stopped her before she could say anything. He was already hard when he reached her, and he felt no shame as he pressed himself against her core. The hand weights she held dropped to the floor with a thud as he dug his fingers into her hips and crushed his mouth to hers.

  The scent and feel that was Amara surrounded him, blocking out any other senses or thoughts. He knew he was being rough on her, that his fingers would leave bruises where they kneaded her hips, her back, her behind, but he didn’t care. All he could think about was his need to claim, to feed. To possess. This woman was his. And he was going to make sure everyone knew it.

  His tongue probed in and out of her mouth, tasting the tart yet minty after effects of her toothpaste. Her skin was already covered in a light sheen of sweat from her work out, but before he was done, she would be drenched. He planned to take out every aspect of his frustration on her and it thrilled him to know she was up to the task.

  Gripping both sides of the spandex that made up her sports bra, he pulled hard. The rip echoed off the walls and her ample breasts spilled into his hands. She threw her head back as he caressed her, his rough, calloused fingers exploring every inch of her as thoroughly and ruthlessly as he wanted. He offered no mercy, and she asked for none. Nova took her into his mouth and sucked hard, his teeth lightly grazing over her nipple. When she moaned, he applied pressure and had the exalting satisfaction of feeling her tremble against him. He moved to show the same attention to her other side and groaned against the salty skin of her breast when her nails dug into his back.

  He groped down her sides, latching into the hem of her tiny shorts and discarding them as if they were nothing, leaving her completely naked except for her running shoes. Hitching her long legs around his hips, he threw them both against the wall for leverage, sending two of her picture frames crashing to the ground and plunged his fingers into the hot, wet center of her.

  He could not get enough of this woman. Everything about her made him crazy. Her face, her wit, her sexy, curvaceous body that he could not get enough of. He loved the way she made him laugh, the way she made him think. The way her body clamped down on his fingers as he thrust them in and out of her. He was so far gone when it came to her, so madly in love, he found it hard to see straight. He needed her in every possible way.

  And he had no intention of letting anything happen to her ever again.

  Amara shuddered hard against his hand, crying out in ecstasy. Still, he pushed her on until she could go no more. When she relaxed against his hold, nearly slumping against the wall, Nova gripped her ass and moved her to the couch, slamming her down and the cushions and all but falling on top of her.

  “Oh no,” he said, his eyes boring into hers with as much need and passion as he’d ever remembered having, “I’m not done with you yet.” Placing one strong hand on each side of her, he spread her thighs and buried his face between her legs. Each lap of his tongue made her shudder against him, her hands clawed over his skin, trying to find purchase. Nova slipped his hands under her ass and lifted her to give him leverage.

  He wanted to make her come, needed to give her as much pleasure as he could. He needed to fulfill and satisfy her as many times as he could in order to find peace. She was home to him, he knew that now. She completed him in a way he had never known before. He wasn’t great with his words, but with his actions, at least he could give back to her in pleasure everything she had given him in emotion.

  Nova focused on making her breathe quicker, shorter, using both his fingers and his mouth to drive her up towards madness. Finally, his tongue found that sweet spot and played repeatedly over her clit, sending her body into spasms. Only when he had her writhing against him and screaming out his name did he pull back and position himself at her opening. Her center pulsed against his throbbing cock and he used the momentum to push into her, loving the way the slick, wet chasm welcomed him in like it had been made only for him.

  He thrust in and out, his eyes closed. Her hands grasped the back of his thighs, pulling him closer still until there was no space between them. Harder and harder he rode, the tip of him touching the end of her, each time making them both cry out in frenzied exaltation until finally, with one last thrust, he exploded inside her, collapsing as he let the exhilarating rapture take him under.

  Nova lay on the floor with his arms tucked in around her, Amara curled gently against his chest. True to his word, they were both sopping wet. He could still feel the heavy thudding of her heart, and knew that his own was still racing with her. And that fast and hard experience had been exactly what he needed. Exactly what they both needed, if he wasn’t mistaken.

  “That was amazing,” Nova whispered, pressing a kiss into her damp hair. He was pleased when her only response was a blissful, “mmm,” and her steady breathing.

  “Amara.” She nuzzled up against him in her half-sleeping state, completely uncaring that they were lying on the ground. He tried again. “Amara.”

  “Hmm.” She burrowed deeper, hitching her leg up to his waist and purring when he ran his fingers over the silky softness of her skin.

  “Amara,” he said a third time, trailing kisses down her throat. He latched his teeth to her shoulder and squeezed.

  “Hmm?”

  “Marry me.”

  It was like time stood still. Both of them froze, neither willing to breathe in case the moment disappeared. Finally, Amara’s eyes opened. Slowly—oh, so slowly—she turned to stare at him. “Are you serious?”

  Laughing a little, he nodded. “Completely serious.”

  Almost unwillingly, she untangled herself from his body. The sense of loss was immediate. “But what about the Pack? Your family?” She sat up so she could face him. “It’s against the Law for you to be with a human.”

  “Laws can change.” Cupping her chin, he kissed her softly, letting the moment linger between them. “And if they don’t, I can change. Marry me, Amara.”

  He watched with baited breath as every emotion she was feeling skipped through her eyes. Fear, excitement, elation, nervousness. Even just a hint of sadness. Then she smiled, and that smile radiated pure, unadulterated joy. Nova couldn’t help but grin back at her. “Yes,” she breathed, throwing her arms around him. “Absolutely, I will marry you.”

  Nova let out a breath he hadn’t known he’d been holding. He kissed her with such fervor that he left them both breathless. Rolling on top of her, he eased himself inside her and slowly took her once more. He kept his movements soft and gentle, cherishing each sigh and heavy breath. When they finally emptied themselves out, their arms and legs so entangled they were like one being, Nova felt his heart swell. With Amara, his existence was finally complete. She was his, for now and always. And nothing and nobody was ever going to break them apart.

  Now they just had to tell the Pack.

  Chapter 14

  Nova dressed while Amara grinned. “I’ve never seen you nervous before,” she told him. “It is kind of cute.” Laughing at his baffled expression, she patted his chest, brushing her lips against his cheek. “Relax, baby. It’s going to be fine.”

  “What?” He gulped. “I know that. I just want you to be safe, is all.”

  “I will be.” Rolling her eyes, she looked around. It looked as if a hurricane had blasted through. A chair was toppled over, broken picture frames and glass covered the floor. The couch cushions were all clumped in a haphazard way. Amara followed his gaze and her grin widened. “I guess we made a mess of things.”

  Nova had the good grace to look apologetic. He offered her a sheepish smile. “Sorry about that. I guess I had some…uh, aggression to work out.”

  Amara’s answering laugh was delightfully husky. “Oh, don’t worry. I don’t mind in the least. In fact, I’m pretty sure you made up for it.” Her gray eyes twinkled with mischief a
nd pleasure. “Four times.”

  Nova chuckled and pulled her up against him. “You’re welcome. Though I’m afraid I ripped your top.”

  “Yeah.” Her lips puffed out in a pout. “I really did like that one.” Then she rolled her eyes and playfully slapped his shoulder. “Don’t be ridiculous. I can always get another one. You know it was worth it.”

  “Damn right, it was.” He glanced around again, feeling guilty. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay and help you clean all of this up? It is my fault everything is such a mess. And we did break the majority of it. I’m happy to stay and help, if you’ll let me.”

  She pressed a hand firmly to his chest, effectively pushing him away. “No. If you stay, I will only want to get you naked and let you take advantage of me again, and right now neither of us have time for that. You have to get home and talk to your family. I know you have responsibilities for more than just me and Strathford. Besides, I’m supposed to check in at the station and go over a few things with Mac, and I need to stop in at the bar and make sure things are okay with Mitch and Zoe.” She wrinkled her nose in distaste. “I also need to make sure she didn’t screw up my liquor order. Or worse, let Mitchell order it. Last time, I had to send half of it back. I didn’t let him hear the end of it for days. How that man ever manages to survive without me is a mystery.”

  Still laughing, Nova nodded. “Alright,” he conceded, “but seriously, don’t get into too much trouble. I’m on patrol tonight since Ian’s still down, so I won’t be able to go with you on Watch. You’re not scheduled to work or anything tonight, are you?”

  “Nope. I get to be a homebody tonight. Just me and Sadie with a stack of chick flicks, a bottle of wine, and a gigantic bowl of popcorn.” She frowned. “I’m hoping I can talk her out of dating Kal after the way he acted at Mom’s the other night. I’m terrified it’s going to get her killed.”