by Cecilia Lane
“Mine,” he growled. “Mine.”
“Yours,” she answered when she could find reason.
Then that, too, fled. Pleasure spiked her blood and flooded her veins. Her heart spread it through her limbs. Heat coiled in her core and then that fire unleashed in an intense shattering of her mind.
She screamed wordlessly, tangling fingers in Gray’s hair and holding him to her as bliss bathed her. Sharp points drove into her skin while warmth filled her in a throbbing release. Gray shook above her, hips sealed to hers, back arching and muscles bunching as he claimed her everywhere.
Meghan trembled when he finally released her. His tongue snaked over the wound he’d left. She expected pain or soreness, but her nerves sparked to life and sent more heat curling in her center. The sudden surge of desire made her gasp and her mate drew back sharply to search her face.
Gold eyes watched her carefully and she reached for him again. She wanted to soothe whatever panic she’d caused. She wanted to feel him close to her skin.
“I’m yours,” she whispered and was rewarded with a brilliant smile. Peace descended over her as more of his skin brushed against hers. And she knew she’d have a long lifetime with her bear.
Epilogue
“This might pinch,” Rylee murmured.
Meghan thought the words were automatic. Rylee spoke them every single time she prepared to draw blood. She was used to the tiny sting of pain as the woman pierced her skin with a needle. Four days of draws and hot flashes and everyone watching her closely was enough to drive her a little crazy, but she put on a smile anyway. It wasn’t Rylee’s fault that her bear didn’t want to make an appearance.
The timing was within normal ranges, they all assured her. Despite the words, she could see the worry. Gray especially kept an eye on her. The time might have been normal but it was edging into too long. Meghan wondered if something was wrong with her.
“I’m sorry I can’t help you more,” Rylee said quietly as she pulled another sample. The vial was filled and labeled with the time of day and estimated time since her bite.
That was another subject that kept repeating. Rylee led a team of scientists working in the enclave. One of their many goals was to find a reversal for bitten shifters so someone like her, who had an animal forced on them, would face no danger. They were still years away from such medicine, but Meghan’s aid would track the process of a human becoming a shifter.
“It’s fine. If this will help at all, I’m happy to do it.” She glanced up at Gray walking in the door with Cole right behind him. His blue eyes latched on to hers and she felt a smile spread across her face at the sight of her mate. “I think it’s for the best.”
Rylee followed her gaze and a smile of her own appeared. “But wouldn’t you rather have had him do it?”
Meghan shrugged. That was something else explained to her. There was a lineage in shifters that added in another layer of relationships. With born shifters, mothers and fathers were the creators of their children and those inner animals. As such, families tended to blend together normally. Bitten shifters took on aspects of the ones who created them. Leah’s bear showed herself in marking like her creator and there was no reason to believe Meghan’s would be any different. She’d always carry a bit of Bentley with her because of how her inner bear was made.
“Of course. There is no changing it now, though. I’m happy with how it ended.” Her fingers grazed over the mate mark on her shoulder. A shiver of pleasure zinged down her spine. The evidence of Gray’s claim was sensitive to the touch.
The other spot marking her as different wasn’t as sensitive. It even looked different. Gray’s mark appeared to be a regular scar while Bentley’s had a silvery sheen to it. So she would need high necklines and long sleeves or insist the scars were from a car accident if she wanted to cover her marks. If.
She couldn’t imagine wanting to hide. It felt too much like erasing her true love and the journey to get to him. Sometimes life got messy but she ended up where she was supposed to be.
Gray’s eyes zeroed in on her neck and a pleased, rumbly growl filled the cabin. “How’s it going in here, lab rat?”
She hid her wince at the sudden loud volume. Her senses were still all over the place. “Good. Rylee just finished with the latest sample.” A sudden hot flash gripped her and she reached for a nearby cold compress. At least those were better than the moments of freezing. It was like her body was trying to regulate to a new average temperature. “The hot and cold spikes are getting closer together. That’s a good sign, right? Like contractions and delivering babies?”
Rylee tapped her finger against her lips. “I suppose it is a little like birth. A new life is coming into the world. I wonder if, like labor, an initial shift can be delayed under the right circumstances and with the right medicine. Or if there is a tipping point and that beastie is coming into the world no matter what. Maybe it could be induced, too.”
Cole shook his head as his mate rambled. “Why don’t you give them a moment alone, little bit. You can make your notes at home when you store away that sample.”
Rylee nodded and gathered her things, but it was clear to Meghan that she was deep in thought.
As soon as Cole opened the door for her, a shout from outside intruded. “Is it happening yet? Not much of a first shift cookout if there’s no shifting,” Becca grumbled.
Meghan chuckled just as Gray wrapped her in his arms. She called over her shoulder, “I heard that! Someone put some food in front of the pregnant lady.”
“My hero! See, why can’t you all be more like Meghan?”
Then the door closed and they were alone.
Gray kissed her slowly, like he wanted to cherish her. There was no denying who had control, though. His lips were firm and hot on hers, his tongue sweeping into her mouth as soon as she parted with a gasp. Steadily, hungrily, his kiss intensified. One hand cupped the back of her head and the other trailed down to her waist to mold her closer to the hard planes of his body.
With a growl, he picked her up and wrapped her legs around him. Meghan groaned when he backed her into a wall and rocked his hips. Heat curled in her core when his erection hit her exactly where she needed.
Desire crashed inside her like a tsunami against a shore. Then she growled and Gray pulled away.
Gold eyes stared back at her. “Hello, bear,” he said softly.
Meghan pressed fingers to her swollen lips. Ragged breath echoed in her ears and she realized it was her own.
Gray pulled her hand away from her face and sipped on her lips. “It shouldn’t be long now. We should get you outside before you destroy everything in here. Monster.”
“You said that last night,” she complained. “We were out there for two hours before you finally let us go to bed.”
“She’s stubborn. She’ll come out when she’s ready.” He set her back on her feet when her stomach grumbled, then pecked her on her lips once more. His mouth hitched up on the side before splaying a hand over her stomach. “Baby bear is asking for food,” he teased. “We’ll need to deliver her straight into a pile of it.”
“Good thing we’re having a cookout.” She pressed her cheek to his chest. As much as she knew they should go outside and mingle with the rest of the clan, she found it hard to take the first steps. She just wanted to melt into Gray.
He was the only reason she wasn’t freaking out more. He was her rock when she felt like her skin was on fire and her space heater when her teeth chattered so hard she thought they’d fall out. He kept her as content as possible throughout the whole process. His unwavering faith that her shift would go smoothly was infectious.
Her stomach rumbled again and she giggled. The noise was loud and demanding and her mouth watered. Gray held her close for a second more before leading her out into the bright sun.
Becca was the first to greet them with all the grace in the world. “Finally! Nolan, get on with the cooking. I need more than finger food. I’m going to eat like, seve
n burgers.”
“Eight, for me,” Meghan chimed in.
Becca arched an eyebrow in challenge. “Nine.”
“Ten. And twelve brats with piles of sauerkraut.” As ridiculous as it sounded, Meghan thought she could eat all of what she listed. Her appetite was off the charts. Her body needed the energy.
“I’ll take you up on that, Hollywood. A week of diaper duty says you don’t make it past six burgers and three brats.”
Nolan twisted from the large grill and pointed a spatula at her. “You’re not betting part of our parenthood experience away.”
Becca pointed right back at her mate. “Little Chickpea and Wienerschnitzel aren’t going to know one person from another for like, two months. If it’s so important to you, you can do all the diapers. Just you wait for the naming raffle I’m setting up.”
Nolan narrowed his eyes, but Leah jumped in before he could say a thing. “Just you wait, Becks. You’ll have the whole clan on call when you get closer to your due date. I’m sure even Rylee could cook up something to poke and prod you over.”
Becca scoffed. “There will not be any sort of sideshow when I go into labor. I’ll be having a serene experience, at home, with a yet-to-be-decided doctor.”
Meghan settled into the bickering going on around her. She felt more accepted by the group of misfits than anywhere in her life. They were quickly becoming her family and best friends. They were another missing puzzle piece in her happiness.
And dang it, she was going to see that they weren’t bothered or hurt by people scared of them.
One by one, the clan approached her while food cooked. A hug, a handshake, some small touch and a word of congratulations welcomed her into the clan. Even Tawny made a quick appearance before shooting off for more mischief that had Gray frowning after her.
There was more to be done once her bear showed—like pledging formally under Callum and learning the scents of the others—but their human sides were showing their acceptance.
“What are you planning to do now?”
Meghan glanced up and found Sawyer seated across from her. His quiet voice was barely acknowledged by the others around them, but it didn’t seem to bother him at all.
Truthfully, she felt a little better. He’d hardly spoken a word to her and even though Gray said it was his way, she wanted everyone in Gray’s life to accept her.
“Well, I can’t be trusted on my own for a while and I wouldn’t want to put anyone in danger. But that doesn’t stop me from writing. I’m buttering up the editor at the paper in town to let me place stories and I’ll keep shopping around other pieces as they come up.”
“Good,” he nodded with approval. “I think what you’re doing is important.”
A blush spread across her cheeks and she looked down at her lap. That was it. She had approval from everyone in the clan. She wouldn’t be the cause of strife between her mate’s people.
Her stomach cramped so suddenly that the breath rushed from her lungs. In an instant, all eyes were on her and silence reigned over the clearing between the cabins.
Gray stepped up in a heartbeat. “Give her some room, you fuckers.” He lifted her off the picnic table and ushered her around the nearest cabin. His hands were like branding irons against her skin but he was the only thing keeping her feet moving.
“Strip down. Don’t want to ruin your pretty things,” he muttered under his breath. It sounded like he screamed in her ear.
Her fingers fumbled thickly at the edges of her shirt and shorts. The only successful item she removed were her flip-flops and not through any strategic means of her own. Gray tried to help her but she waved him off with a groan.
“Let her out. Step to the side and let her take over. It’s going to hurt. But I know you won’t back down. You’re strong, Meghan. Strongest person I know.”
The words soothed her. Meghan slid her eyes shut. She didn’t know if her gasp was in the real world or her mind.
A beautiful beast of a bear stood in front of her. Dark fur rippled as she shook herself. Then glowing green eyes focused on Meghan.
There was strength there. Fierce power and sheer will for days. Meghan knew she’d never feel weak or powerless again with such a creature in her mind.
She never expected the twists and turns her life took from the moment she walked away from her wedding. That fork in the road led her down a path that saw her tried and tested. She’d been put through fire and forged into something new and wonderful.
She found her family. She found her love. Gray was everything to her and she would fight for their slice of happiness. He wasn’t what she expected or even deserved, but he was hers.
Just like the bear still staring at her and waiting for her to make a move.
Sure of herself, Meghan reached forward and let the beast take hold of her body.
THE END
Shifters of Bear’s Den return with Stolen Mate!
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Next in Series
Stolen Mate: Shifters of Bear’s Den Book Five
Take one protective, growly shifter.
Add his fated mate, a sassy woman who awakens his bear.
Stir in a marriage of convenience, a remote cabin in the woods and let simmer...
Everly Mather’s very terrible, no-good day is fixing to get a whole lot worse. To start off, her alpha announces he wants to mate with her, to produce an heir. When she gives him an emphatic nope, her guardians take her for a drive and abandon her on the side of a desolate road.
The long hike home is punishment for her defiance.
Her bad day takes another down turn when a big, hulking bear shifter stops for a friendly game of twenty questions. He seems to think she needs rescuing. He’s all kind of mad and snarling on account of her pride dumping her in the middle of nowhere.
He refuses to mind his own business.
And refuses to go away.
When she insists she’s just fine without his help, thank you very much, Mr. Growly McBossy tosses her into his truck, and hauls her out to his cabin in the woods. If her jaguar pride cast her aside they don’t deserve a fine little thing like her. He announces his plans to keep her.
Period.
Just a little neighborly protective custody…
Everyone thinks bear-shifter, Sawyer Strickland is gentlemanly…
Yeah, that all goes right out the window the moment he finds the pretty little blonde on the deserted road. Everly’s lovely hazel eyes and sweet curves awaken his bear along with a whole lot of protective instincts. She doesn’t want his help?
Too bad.
She’s getting it anyway. There’s no way he’ll leave a vulnerable, albeit sassy, woman out in the middle of nowhere.
Especially when said female is his mate.
Instead of returning her to her people, he carries her off to his cabin. His hospitality doesn’t exactly win her over. Even after a few days, circling each other in tight quarters, she’s still a tad miffed over the whole deal.
After a little time, she’ll come around. He’s sure.
But what comes around instead is her pack alpha, spouting all sorts of nonsense about mating with Everly. Not happening. Sawyer’s ready to give the big cat shifter a beat down. He’s furious that Everly was left behind by her pride members. Also, she belongs to him. There’s that too. Just when things are about to get interesting, Everly surprises both men.
She claims she’s already married. To Sawyer.
Sawyer knows he can protect his woman with a marriage of convenience.
Even if his possessive bear demands to claim his sweet, fiery mate.
Stolen Mate is available for preorder!
Also by Cecilia Lane
Shifting Destinies: Shifters of Bear’s Den
Forbidden M
ate
Dangerous Mate
Hunted Mate
Runaway Mate
Stolen Mate
Shifting Destinies Standalone Stories
Her Christmas Wolf
Wanted by the Bear
Cursed Dragons
Dragon’s Touch
Dragon’s Desire
Dragon’s Demon
Cursed Dragons Books 1-3
Fated Hearts Club
Burning for the Dragon
Bear’s Baby Blues
Howling for a Mate
Fated Hearts Club Books 1-3
Dragonsworn
Smoulder
Singe
Scorch
Dragonsworn Book 1-3
About the Author
Cecilia Lane grew up in a what most call paradise, but she insists is humid hell. She escaped the heat with weekly journeys to the library, where she learned the basics of slaying dragons, magical abilities, and grand adventures.
When it became apparent she wouldn’t be able to travel the high seas with princes or party with rock star vampires, Cecilia hunkered down to create her own worlds filled with sexy people in complicated situations. She now writes with the support of her own sexy man and many interruptions from her goofy dog.
