The Winter Collection

by Alexa Riley

  He’s looking at the house and the surrounding area with a questioning look in his eyes. He doesn’t ask anything, and I can sense he’s one pissed-off alpha.

  “What do you want, Stone?” I don’t have time for games. He needs to say what he wants and leave. I have a mate to bond with.

  “I needed to check on my sister. I saw you broke out of the cell. Where is she?” His anger is palpable, but I don’t care. He doesn’t intimidate me.

  “She’s fine. You can go now.”

  “I need to see her, Xavier. I know how you’ve been these past few years. I need to make sure she’s okay.” He spits the words at me as if my sorrow over the loss of my family was something I could control.

  “Get off my property. If you don’t, we’ll fight. And I will win.” I clench my fists at my side. I’m not intimidated by his words.

  “You’ll have to kill me.”

  “If that’s what it takes.”

  “Enough!” Gwen’s shout has me turning around. I see her standing on the porch with her hands on her hips. “I’m here, Stone. I’m fine. You can go home and leave my mate and me to our bonding.”

  “Gwen, are you okay?”

  “What is wrong with you, Stone? You’re acting crazy. Shifters don’t hurt their mates. You locked mine up and tried to keep him from me. You know what that would have done to him. What it would have done to me. Why are you acting this way? You’ve gone crazy!”

  I see Winnie step onto the porch behind Gwen, and I feel a shift in Stone. Anyone else wouldn’t feel it, but because I found my mate before she was of age, I know what it is. There’s a longing in Stone, along with the need to hold back. He’s terrified because his heart wants her, but his wolf doesn’t know if she’s the one.

  Suddenly, all his talk from when I was in the cell makes sense. He’s angry with himself because he’s doing all the things I did with Gwen when she was young.

  “Stone.” I say his name low, and his eyes shoot to mine. “Do you see what I have built for Gwen? Do you see that I pulled myself through the grief so I could be a worthy mate for her?” He looks around at the house and then back to me. I’m sure I look a sight better after the trim she gave my long hair and beard. “Do you see that what happened before happened for a reason?”

  His eyes come back to me, and I can see a slight nod. He understands my meaning, and I feel some of the tension between us fade.

  He looks at Gwen and raises his chin. “You’re the only family I have left. I’m sorry, but I just needed to make sure you were okay.”

  Gwen steps off the porch and goes to walk past me, but I grab her wrist. She turns to look into my eyes, then reaches up to touch my face.

  “You said you would do anything for me. I’m not going anywhere, Xavier.”

  I take a breath and nod, releasing her wrist. She turns towards Stone and goes to him, giving him a hug. He wraps his arms around her, and I can see he is relieved she is okay, and also that she is in a safe place. I can only imagine how I would have been with my sister. If I tried to put myself in his position, I may have acted the same. I would have only wanted what was best for her.

  She releases her hold and immediately comes back to my side, nearly wrapping her entire body around me. It comforts me that she needs my touch just as much as I need hers.

  “Give us a few weeks. We’d like to have you over for dinner after the full moon.” I look down at Gwen and raise my eyebrow. I guess we’re hosting a dinner party. I will always give her whatever she wants.

  Stone just nods and looks over my shoulder at Winnie. I see it again, and I feel what’s happening between them. I have no doubt they’ll be mated together. I don’t know why he’s too blinded by his own self-hatred to see it. I can’t really see much of Winnie under her long hair and baggy clothes, but she smells nice. I’m sure she’ll make him a good mate and bear lots of cubs.

  I look over at Stone and his eyes come back to mine. “Do you see it yet?”

  The movement nearly imperceptible, but I see he nods his head.

  “What?” Gwen asks, and I just lean down, kissing the top of her head.

  “Later, my love,” is all I say.

  I turn us back towards the house, and Gwen reaches out, hugging Winnie as we go inside. “I’ll call you tomorrow. I’ll have X bring me into town to get the rest of my things.

  “I’ll escort you back to town,” Stone says to Winnie.

  A small blush blossoms across her cheeks as she follows the alpha out of the clearing and to the line of trees where the forest begins.

  I pick up Gwen and toss her over my shoulder, hurriedly taking her back into the house and to our bedroom. She giggles as I toss her onto the bed and climb on top of her, and she pulls at my clothes.

  “I need to be inside you.”

  She giggles again as the material rips, and I bare her breasts to my hungry eyes. “You got so worked up from the confrontation. Maybe I should have more people come challenge you. I kind of like this.”

  Leaning down, I growl against her skin as I pull out my hard cock and thrust inside her. She moans at being filled, my cock nearly too big for her small channel.

  “I will win every challenge. I would fight to the death for you.”

  “Xavier,” she moans as I thrust harder and deeper. “Just make love to me.”

  Pulling out of her heat, I lean back on my heels and turn her body over. Gwen whines and protests at the loss of my cock, but once she’s on all fours with her ass presented to me, I thrust back inside her again.

  “I need you like this, Gwen. My wolf wants to mount you, but I’m still in control. I think after I cum inside you, we should go for a run in the woods as our wolves. I want to mate you in wolf form, too.”

  She moans at my words and pushes her ass back against me harder. Lowering her chest to the bed, she spreads her legs wider, baring her body to me and letting me know I can have her however I want.

  I reach down and take a handful of her hair while I grip her hip and thrust harder. I bend down and place my teeth on her shoulder, and she moans loudly.

  “Mark me, Xavier.”

  My teeth begin to ache, and I bite down, sending her over the edge into an orgasm that is fierce and fast. She grips me harder, her pulses pulling the semen from me. I have no choice but to bathe her womb in my seed, breeding her and binding her to me.

  Once we’re both coming down from our rabid pleasure, I lick the wound, healing it for her. There will always be a faint scar anywhere I mark her, but we both like the idea of our ownership showing.

  “I love you, Gwen,” I whisper against her skin. I’m still inside her, bent over her body, blanketing hers with mine. “I know we are mated, and it goes so far beyond the realm of love, but I love you. I needed to say that.”

  She lowers her ass, letting me slip from her body, and turns over underneath me. She holds my face, smiling at me with tears in her eyes, and nods. “I understand. I love you, too, Xavier.”

  “Now let me feed you.”

  I pull Gwen from the bed, and we go to the kitchen and dive into the food she has prepared. It warms my heart that she made a meal for me. I should do everything for her, but I understand that we are partners in this. Having her care for me too makes me feel treasured.

  Chapter 12

  Gwen

  “Hi.”

  “Jesus!” Ruby screams, turning around and wielding the rolling pin in her hand like a weapon. “I almost popped these babies out! You scared the shit out of me, Gwen.” Her eyes are wide at my sudden appearance. I need to remember she can’t hear like us. A shifter would’ve heard me unlock the door.

  “Sorry.” I drop my purse onto one of the prep tables in the back of the bakery. “I didn’t think you’d be in so early with the full moon last night.” Making my way over to the sink, I grab an apron and slip it on before I start to wash my hands.

  “I didn’t think I’d be seeing you either. What’s it been, weeks, since you left that little love cabin X has you
stashed away in? I was sure you were lost to us forever.” I hear the sound of the rolling pin hit the counter.

  Guilt hits me hard as I turn to face her. She looks exhausted. Her red hair is up in a messy bun, and she doesn’t look like she’s had much sleep. I’m guessing she didn’t sleep with the full moon last night. Mates go at it like crazy, and to top it off, she’s carrying three pups. It doesn’t help that she’s human. She might have gotten a few shifter traits when she mated Dom, but the pregnancy would be hard on her, no matter what. Wolves only carry for three months, something the human body isn’t designed to do.

  I’ve left her high and dry with the bakery, but my mate wasn’t so inclined to let me out of the house. The only reason I’m even here now is because I banged him until he passed out. The mating heat took hold of us, then I gave him the slip when the first light of day hit.

  It might have been sneaky, but my brute of a mate needs to learn that I might leave sometimes, but I’ll always come back.

  “I’m sorry, Ruby. Things have been...” I can’t think of the right word. Too many words come to mind. Perfect, crazy, intense, exhausting, overbearing? It’s been all those things rolled into one giant ball that made my heart race and my stomach flutter. And I loved every minute of it. I wouldn’t change anything for the world. I have my mate, the missing piece to my soul. I’ve never been happier in my life, but I still feel guilty for leaving Ruby in a bind. She’s part of why I found my mate. She gave me the job at the bakery that started Xavier and I on the path to each other once again.

  “It’s fine.” She wobbles over towards a chair, placing her butt firmly in it, and I can tell she’s anything but fine.

  “I called in some people to train so you’re not spread so thin with the bakery. I’d love to train them for you,” I offer, knowing I might be training myself out of a job, but it’s the least I can do after leaving her to handle this on her own. I love working at the bakery, but Ruby has to do what she has to do. She has three pups on the way, and I’m willing to do whatever will make her happy and show my appreciation for how great she’s been to me. Not only did she give me a job when I had zero experience, but she also gave me her little apartment so I could get away from my brother. Two things I’ll always be grateful for.

  “I’m not going to lie. I’m kinda shocked you're here, even more so without a giant shadow behind you.” She eyes me suspiciously, and I don’t blame her. I’m a little shocked he hasn’t shown up to get my ass already, but I did try to mask my scent. If he’s going to follow me around everywhere I go, I can at least make it a little fun and give my mate a challenge. I haven’t had a moment alone in weeks.

  Just when I’d go to tell him to back up off my ass because I needed to pee or something, he’d give me this cute little pout. How he pulled off a pout I have no idea, but the reminder has me fighting a smile.

  “I might have given him the slip.” At my words, Ruby jumps up from her chair, heading for the back door to unlock it.

  “I do not want to buy a new door today,” she tells me, waddling back to her chair.

  “Good catch,” I laugh. When X finally catches my scent, he won’t be knocking. He’ll probably just go right through the door like the Tasmanian Devil. I should just open it, but the December cold is seeping into the air.

  “And yeah, the training is yours if you really think you can swing it.”

  “Just to train them?” I push a little, wondering if I’m out of a job when I’m done with the training. From the way Xavier talked, I won’t need to work. He has a plan to fill me with babies, but until I have a pile running around at my feet, I don’t want to sit at home. Xavier said he has family money in the bank, and he talked about building more houses. I knew when he was giving me this information, it was his way of telling me to keep my ass parked at home because I wasn’t needed by the pack anymore. I’m his pack now.

  This might be something that can’t be fully followed. Xavier just wants it to be him and me, but he’ll soon see that the pack would be good for our family. Not only for our children, but for us. Only time will show him that, and I think he’s still so scared of losing me. I gave him his time during our mating, but it’s time to start pressing back.

  As much as I enjoy being locked away in our home together, I’m a social person. I always have been and probably always will be. I like helping the women in the pack, because it makes me feel good. The need to lead and to help others comes from my alpha blood. It’s something I knew made us perfect for each other. I can draw him out and, sometimes, he can pull me in.

  I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love how overbearing he can be. It makes me feel cherished, but I also want him to be confident in me. Secure. I don’t like the idea of him worrying that I won’t come back to him, or that I wouldn’t fight to be with him if someone tried to pull us apart. I showed him my response when my brother tried, and I hope that eases some of his fears. After that incident, Stone has been oddly absent in the past few weeks.

  “For whatever you want to give, Gwen. I think we’re both on the path to babies, and together we can run this place if we train the right people.”

  “Oh my God, what if our babies are mates?” The thought pops into my head, and I can’t stop myself from squealing. The plans for running the bakery leave my mind completely.

  “I should’ve known your mind would go right there,” she laughs, and I can’t seem to stop bouncing on my feet at the idea. We’re both going to have little ones running around together. I was so happy when Ruby moved to town and Dom found his mate, but part of me was jealous. I wanted that, too, and now everything is sliding into place better than I could’ve imagined.

  “As much as I would love to talk about all of our babies mating, my feet feel like they might explode. I’m going to head out when Dom gets back. He’s just popping into the police station to drop some stuff off, so he’ll be here any moment.” She rises to her feet, pulling off her apron and tossing it onto the prep table next to my purse. “Who are the new hires?”

  “Winnie and her stepsisters.” I knew I had to hire within the pack, or Dom would have had a major issues about it.

  I have to fight a growl at my own words. When I called to ask Winnie if she wanted to train at the bakery, I somehow got roped into having her stepsisters there, too. They aren’t really Winnie’s stepsisters—they’re wolves and she’s a bear—but she grew up in the same house as them for the past few years, so I guess they’re almost like stepsisters. Those two are bitches in every sense of the word. I’ve been noticing a lot how they treat Winnie lately. But maybe this could work. I can keep a better eye on them if they’re here.

  I smell him before I see him. Turning, I see X standing in the back doorway of the bakery. A look I can’t quite make out is on his face. His hair is wild like he’s been running, and he seems a little out of breath. He isn’t charging in, picking me up, and throwing me over his shoulder. I also catch Dom’s scent, who I now notice is behind my mate.

  “So we’re out of here.” Ruby chirps, breaking the odd silence coats the room. X moves out of her way, letting her out the back door. She goes to Dom, and he gives me a half-smile before he pulls Ruby into his arms, mumbling something about her feet.

  X continues to stand there, and I wonder if that’s his plan. Just to come to work with me every day. It’s something that seems pointless if I’m busy. I’d tell him he probably has better things to be doing, but I know that would be a waste of breath. He’d argue there isn’t anything he’d rather be doing.

  “Good morning,” I say in the sweetest voice that just earns me a grunt. I give him the stink eye and try again. “You don’t think it’s a good morning?”

  “A good morning would’ve been me waking to the same breakfast I’ve been having for the past few weeks.” His words are laced with bitterness, and we both know the breakfast he’s talking about isn’t bacon and eggs. No, it’s me. I’d missed that too when I’d silently slid from our warm bed this morning.


  “My room is upstairs, and I have—”

  He’s on me before I can finish. He easily throws me over his shoulder, something he does more often than not. He gives me the response I thought he would the moment he found me. Seems someone is finally learning a little patience. ‘Little’ being the key word.

  “Old room,” he growls, making me smile. I playfully bite his jean-covered ass, which is directly in front of my face. He tosses me onto the bed before covering me with his body. “Old room,” he repeats, wanting my confirmation.

  “Well, it would be if you’d let me pack my stuff,” I remind him. This is something I’ve been telling him we need to do. He kept saying he could do it, but all I can envision is my favorite shoes and bags thrown carelessly into a box, then duct taped up. Nope, not happening. I love those shoes and bags.

  “Fine. We’ll do it now. And then you’ll come home?” I hear the hope in his voice, and I’m a little taken aback by it. This was not how I thought this would go. I didn’t foresee my brute of a mate asking me anything when it came to not being within reaching distance of him. Something’s up.

  “You’re acting odd.” I eye him suspiciously, but he gives me nothing. “What if I say no? We’ll pack after I’m done with my shift today?”

  “Okay, I’ll wait.” Shocking. He’d stand like a statue in the corner all day. I could see it now. He’d growl at every male that tried to talk to me. Hell, the bakery would be bankrupt in a month. Even when the mating heat passes, I know Xavier will still be more possessive than most males. It’s just who he is. He’s more animal than man. Logically, he knows no other shifter would want me, but he doesn’t care. He sees every male as a threat.

  “No, you come back at three.”

  I see him fight himself. “This will make you happy?” He searches my face, and I just smile up at him.

  “It will make me happy that you trust me.”

  “I can’t keep you caged.” He says the words like he’s repeating them from another source. “You’re so full of life. It’s unfair, no matter how much I want it. I just thought I had more time.”