A Pack Family
Fated Mate: Book 3
Shannon Duane
Copyright © 2013 by: Shannon Duane
Cover Design by: Laura Shinn
Shannon Duane
Don’t miss the other books in Shannon’s Fated Mate series:
Book 1 – An Alpha’s Trust
Book 2 – A Second Chance
Book 3 – A Pack Family
Book 4 – Mate Magic
Book 5 – Mate Switch
Watch for Book 6 - coming soon!
Irish Boys Series
Book 1 – Carrick’s Caress
Book 2 – Liam’s Danger
Watch for book 3 –coming soon
License Notes:
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without express written permission of the author. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy or copies. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
A Pack Family is a work of fiction. Though some of the cities and towns actually exist they are used in a fictitious manner for purposes of this work. All characters are works of fiction and any names or characteristics similar to any person past, present or future are coincidental.
Dedicated to:
This book is dedicated to my one and only sister. You are my best friend, my nemesis, my conscience and my biggest competition. I love that you always tell me the truth. Well, the truth according to you. Your twin boys bring joy and trouble, brightening and enriching our lives. No, they cannot spend the night. And your hubby is awesome, a great beer drinking friend.
Love you always,
Face
P.S. Mom likes me better. Na na na na na na
To view more of Shannon’s writing, please visit:
http://shannonduane.yolasite.com.
http://www.facebook.com/shannon.duane.98?ref=tn_tnmn
Prologue
Decker had planned on having a nice weekend with Katie, his ex-partner on the force. She was getting married and he couldn’t be happier. They were close, like family. They’d had each other’s backs for years and he’d miss seeing her every day.
Katie had met Conner, her future husband/wolf shifter, and within a couple months the wedding was planned and she had resigned from the force, moving to American Canyon. Their relationship wasn’t all roses. Katie gave Conner a real run for his money, trying to run from all emotions and the complications of a relationship. It had all happened so fast but Decker could see the love that Katie and Conner shared. In the end Katie couldn’t deny Conner.
Decker was also looking for a change and was amazed at the pull he felt toward this beautiful town. The sense of community; the town and the people were all wonderful. He seemed to be drawn to this area.
He missed the wedding party dinner by thirty minutes, because he’d shown up late. Conner and Katie’s home appeared huge, and from the outside looked like a mansion. Some evil old lady named Quinn, the housekeeper, said that he would not be allowed to interrupt the festivities. So he was to go to his room where she would deliver his meal, like a naughty child. Wench, it wasn’t his fault he got a flat tire and his GPS was acting up. Who lives so deep in the woods anyway?
He spent the next day reassuring Conner that his lovely bride would not run again. Thank Heaven the ceremony was scheduled for the early afternoon because he wasn’t sure he could handle Conner’s fretting until tonight. Conner had it bad, he was sprung, which was exactly what Katie needed. Dedication, love, and family.
Decker didn’t know how he’d gotten into this mess. He was in a tux standing next to Jake, the Alpha wolf shifter, also wearing a tux. He was in the wedding party of his best friend Katie who was marrying the Pack Second. Conner was currently pacing in the front aisle, driving Decker crazy.
Katie and Conner had been through a lot. Their romance included Katie running away from a clingy Conner, Conner being shot and Katie being kidnapped and assaulted by their ex-boss. Plus, the fact that Conner was a wolf shifter and mated her without ‘express written or verbal consent’-Katie’s wording.
“Could you please stop pacing, it’s making me dizzy. I told you she is going to show up.” Decker couldn’t take much more of Conner’s nervousness.
Conner turned and flashed Decker a bit of fang and growled. Jake laughed while Decker chuckled.
Decker muttered under his breath “Dumb werewolves.”
Jake and Conner looked seriously pissed for a moment before Jake sighed and said, “We prefer to be called Shifters. Didn’t Katie tell you that?”
Katie had indeed told Decker that but he couldn’t resist ribbing them.
Jake was trying to patiently explain. “We are not werewolves, its magic that helps us to change. We aren’t ruled by a moon, nor can we bite humans to make rabid beasts.” Jake followed his explanation with, “Stupid humans.” And they all enjoyed a relaxing laugh.
Finally, the ceremony music began to play and Conner stilled, his pacing was driving Decker bat-shit-crazy. Decker looked down the aisle and saw the most beautiful woman approaching. She had golden hair and fine bone structure and lips that were set in a kiss me pout.
He was lost looking at this woman. Her dress was strapless showing an ample amount of cleavage and he could just see the delicate ballet slippers playing peek-a-boo with her gowns hem. She had a funny walk but he could deal with that if she would just look at him and give him a sign, any sign.
Tara was tired and her back hurt but she would do anything for her new friend Katie. Even agree to be a bridesmaid, again. Damn but she was sick of being a bridesmaid all the time. At least at Katie’s wedding she got to wear comfortable shoes.
She waddled down the aisle with her tulip bouquet held in front of her distended abdomen. She couldn’t wait for this to be over. The love fest between Katie and Conner, not to mention Jake and Shana, was pissing her off. She wanted a mate. But who was going to want her, a twenty four year old shifter who was about to give birth to twins.
She was walking down the aisle, keeping her head down so she didn’t trip on her dress and ruin the wedding. When she was almost there, she looked up seeing a nervous Conner, an amused Jake and the most amazing man she had ever seen. This tall man had short black hair, green eyes and a muscular physique with broad shoulders, apparent even under his tux. She tried to catch his scent on the wind but it eluded her due to the flowers under her nose.
Tara made eye contact with tall, dark, beautiful green eyes and something clicked. She felt safe and comfortable for the first time in what felt like forever. Odd, that looking at this stranger could give her what she’d so desperately been searching for. Peace.
Tara could feel her cheeks heat and knew she was blushing at the small thrill she got from just looking at him. She smiled while pulling the flowers away from her body to show him her pregnant belly, and saw his eyes widen. Shoot, she knew he wouldn’t want her now that he’d seen her pregnant form. Se la vie.
Crap, Decker thought. She was pregnant, probably married to some rich guy and living the high life in a huge home with a maid and a housekeeper. A life he couldn’t give her. I wasn’t meant to be. He’d go home to his empty house and unfulfilling job. He’d always felt like he was doing something worthwhile as a cop, but lately he could only see the corrupt and depraved people of the world. Some were his co-workers.
Decker watched all the ladies walk down the aisle but couldn’t help looking back at the pregnant bridesmaid. She was stunning. He felt like all kinds of an ass looking at another man’s woman, but he couldn’t help himself. She had wonderful blond hair with deep blue eyes.
Did no one see she was uncomfortable? She kept placing a hand to her lower back and he
felt a strong desire to be the one rubbing her back, or her feet to make her more comfortable. She wasn’t wearing a wedding ring but maybe she’d taken it off because she was swollen. He’d make a mental note to ask Katie. What was he thinking? He wasn’t going to ask Katie about her pregnant friend at her wedding, scandalous.
Damn, if that fine man at the end of Conner’s line kept looking at her like that, he might light a fire in her panties. Already she could feel her sex becoming heavy and moist. Yes, he was a breath of fresh air, a glass of cool water on a hot summer day.
She had never been this wet before; in fact she could feel it running down her inner thigh. Wait, that was a lot of liquid to be coming out of her she thought, as a sudden gush of fluid wet her slippers, and the ground beneath her. Did she just pee herself? She felt a sudden tightening pain, starting at the top of her belly and going all the way down her abdomen; she hunched slightly. She didn’t want to alarm anyone, but the fact was, she was in labor. Tara stood quietly by Shana’s side in the wedding line, watching Katie finish her vows, and waited.
Decker wondered what had happened, the smile on his pretty lady’s face had turned into a grimace of pain and she bent over rubbing her low abdomen. A couple minutes later she repeated the process. She clutched the bouquet in one hand and she idly massaged her back with the other. Holy shit-balls, she was in labor. Enough people called 911 for this type of emergency that he now knew the signs. Could no one else see her pain, or was no one else paying any attention?
Decker was not pleased that this beautiful woman was forced to endure unnecessary pain. Why didn’t she simply walk away and go to the local hospital, or call out to her husband? She must be an amazing friend to stay and endure. He, however, was fit to be tied. With every grimace he witnessed was causing him physical pain. Decker needed to get her out of there.
The vows were said and as soon as the deal was sealed with a kiss Decker approached the unknown lady and plucked her up into his arms, carrying her into the house yelling for someone to call 911. She dropped her bouquet and clung to him, whimpering through a contraction.
Decker took her to the room he had stayed in the night before because he was still unfamiliar with this house and didn’t want to get lost. “What’s your name? Do you want me to call you husband or boyfriend?”
Tara inhaled his masculine scent and sighed in pleasure, he smelled of leather and gun powder. The combinations alone would have been odd, but together, on this man gave him an image of danger; a bit of wildness. She wanted to sink into his arms and never come out, of course that’s when another pain hit her and a bit more fluid leaked out of her and onto him. How embarrassing.
She had found her one true mate while she was in labor, life was not fair. She felt her abdomen tighten again and she rode out the pain in his arms with him whispering soothingly, while rubbing gently on her lower back.
When she could talk she responded. “No husband or boyfriend, you can leave me here until the midwife comes.” It was obviously not a proper time to claim him, or even discuss it.
“I’m not going to leave you here alone. Is there anyone I can call?” The handsome man looked even more panicked.
“Nope, everyone I care about is in the reception. It’s fine, I’ll manage. You should go be with your friends.”
He sighed “I’m Decker by the way, well, Brett but everyone calls me Decker.” He climbed onto the bed and scooted her forward “I guess I’ll be your coach since you don’t have one. I’ve seen a couple births before, but I’m no pro.” He got on the bed behind her and supported her upper body with his chest while she sat between his powerful legs.
“Tara.”
She sat forward and let him put pressure on her back during the contraction and it felt better. He must be an amazing man to sacrifice his evening for a lonely woman in labor. A person who cared for others was exactly what she wanted her pups to learn, honor. Her thoughts were interrupted by his deep raspy voice.
“So, Tara, when are you due?” See, he knew about pregnancy stuff.
“In four weeks. I’m carrying twins and they usually come early. No need to worry, I was expecting this.” She could sense his panic. “The midwife will come when Shana calls.”
“Are you okay here? Do you want me to take you to the hospital or call an ambulance?”
Tara hunched forward and began to rock forward and back slightly. It lasted about fifteen seconds before she relaxed into his chest. “I plan on having a home birth. No medications, no hospitals, and no needles.”
“Are you sure you don’t want that medicine that they put in your back to numb your…stuff.”
She giggled at his awkwardness. “It’s an epidural and I don’t want it. Thank you for your concern.” She hunched over again and began to rock again, breathing funny. Her hands clutched his lower legs and she heard his gasp of pain.
“I think you might need to change positions Brett, I’m really close to having these babies.” She relaxed back against his cheat once again “Just let me rest one more time. Next time, I think I’m going to need to push.”
Decker had a brief bout of unease but he held her against his chest as he stroked her belly with one hand, while putting pressure on her lower back with the other. “Are you sure you’re close? Maybe you could just, I don’t know…wait.”
She sat forward and said. “They won’t wait, please. You have to help me bring these babies into the world. It’ll be fine, just catch.”
Decker scooted out from behind her and crouched down on the bed in between her legs. Her bridesmaids dress was wet but remained covering her legs. “Are you okay with me lifting your dress? I need to see if the head is visible.”
She blushed and nodded. She studied him before lifting her dress the barest of inches. She was embarrassed now that her pain had ebbed. “Uh, sure”-She was cut off by the mother of all contractions, and desire to push. Dang, these kids weren’t waiting for a midwife.
Decker sucked in a deep calming breath and lifted her dress completely and saw…a crown of hair. He looked up at Tara panting and sweating, but she looked like a fierce warrior. Beautiful, calm, and strong.
“Uh, you need to push Tara, I can see the head. You’re so close.” Decker was petrified. He didn’t know how to actually deliver a baby, where was the midwife?
Tara relaxed against the bed and breathed deeply. “The contraction is over. With the next one I’ll need to push so you need to guide the baby out and don’t forget there is another baby okay?” She made eye contact and she could see his easy acceptance.
The contraction hit hard and she pushed as Decker placed his hands on her inner thighs. She felt a pop as the head came out. “Great job babe, just keep pushing.”
Tara grunted and pushed again as Decker guided the shoulders out.
“Oh my God, it’s a baby.” Decker sounded so proud as Tara looked down at her newborn.
Tara leaned against the headboard panting. “Get ready, there’s another one.”
The door slammed open and an elderly woman entered. “Well, what do we have here?”
Decker lifted up the child and placed it on Tara’s still extended belly. “You have a precious baby boy.” He stayed in place until the old lady pushed him aside and placed clamps on the cord and cut.
“Go up and sit behind her, I’ll take over the delivery of the second pup.”
Decker gently lifted her back and slunk in behind her. He placed his hands on hers as they cradled her newborn to her chest. She whimpered in pain. He took her son in his arms as she pushed her second child into the world.
Decker heard the crying of Tara’s second child.
“It’s a girl and she’s fit as a fiddle,” said the midwife.
Tara collapsed onto his chest exhausted. She felt wonderful lying against him. Decker placed her son back into her arms and held her as she held her children against her chest.
Decker could feel the tears of joy running down his face but he didn’t understand the meaning. The m
iracle of life always made him emotional, but these births he felt deep in his soul. They were all connected. He rubbed his cheek on the top of Tara’s head. His tears falling freely into her beautiful hair he kissed her temple. The midwife quietly backed out of the room.
“Thank you for all you’ve done for me tonight. I’ll never forget it.” Tara’s weary voice sounded lost.
Was he being dismissed? “There is nowhere I’d rather be.”
The baby boy began to cry in Tara’s arms. “I think he must be hungry. Would you mind terribly holding my daughter?”
He held his breath as she placed her daughter in his arms. “She’s so beautiful. What will you name her?”
“I actually haven’t thought on it. I knew I was having a boy and a girl but I wasn’t prepared for them to arrive so soon, even though I knew they would be early. Do you have any suggestions?”
“I have always been partial to Decker.” He winked and smiled, it was devastating.
“Isn’t that your last name? I couldn’t possibly give them your sur name.”
“Of course, I just mean, well, they are beautiful babies but, uh…I have to be going.” He bent forward and kissed each child on the head before looking up to see Tara’s eyes were full of delight.
“It was nice meeting you Ms. Tara” and he bent forward to place a chaste kiss on her lips. He meant for the kiss to be gentile but when their lips met Tara opened her mouth and tasted him like she was a woman starving. He lost himself in the contact before her son started crying.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to…I’m sorry.” Decker fled the room like the fires of hell were on his heels.
Tara knew this was not the last she’d see of him. Decker, her mate.
Chapter 1
Decker still felt restless. He’d been back in Petaluma at work for about two weeks when he was approached to take a supervisor position. The position previously held by Big Eddie, the scumbag who put Katie through hell. He thought it through and felt like he, not only didn’t want to be a supervisor, but he didn’t want to work in Petaluma any longer. He called Jake, the Alpha wolf and asked if he knew anyone to contact regarding a job in American Canyon where Katie had relocated. He loved the little town right outside the Napa Valley.
A Pack Family Page 1
