by Godiva Glenn
Chell pressed her palm to a metal plate on one side and the door hissed and slid open. Once they’d all entered the room, she repeated the action on the inside panel, closing them in.
It was a small room, though spacious enough for them to stand against the wall without being crowded. Nothing fancy stood out to Troy, and certainly no portal.
“Are we ready?” Chell asked.
Three resounding “Yeses” echoed through the room.
Chell held out her palm, and Troy saw the silver object she’d taken from their driver. It looked almost like an egg, if it had been laid by a mechanical chicken. She stared intently at it and spoke in the strange language he’d often heard her use with Valdus. All he recognized was “Nova Solara.”
The egg lifted from her grasp on its own and emitted a red light from within. It seemed to expand as it drifted away from them then dissolved against the far wall, leaving a vivid pool of color behind.
Troy peered into the strange portal. In a way, it was like looking into an aquarium, except that instead of fish and sand, he saw clouds and trees beyond the gently rippling surface.
“I bet this is what it’s like to get high,” Gabe mused.
Chell moved between Gabe and Troy and took their hands. Glancing to Valdus, she said, “See you back home, love.”
Valdus stepped through first, vanishing into the bright scene. Chell took a deep breath and pulled the rest of them through.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Valdus
On the surface, Nova Solara had not changed. The trees were still tall and strong. The air was still fresh and clean. The dirt was, of course, still dirt.
But the feel had changed. A handful of their clan had met them where they’d arrived from the portal and accompanied them to the center of their territory toward Chell’s home, and though he could sense them as his clan, knew their names and faces, and could remember speaking with them before, they felt strange.
Or rather, the aura they gave off was strange.
“It is tense,” he said to Mara, who was the most familiar of all who’d joined them so far.
“You can’t guess why?” she asked. “The first humans ever to set foot on this planet. The first bear clan harem. And you, one of our most beloved missing treasures. Of course, there’s tension and every emotion on the scale hovering around us.”
He supposed it was all of those things. In his mind, he was simply returning home. He wanted peace and comfort. “I’m not one for large celebrations.”
“Hmm. Yes. I’m so sorry for you,” she said with clear sarcasm.
“Don’t be rude,” Chell said from beside him.
They entered a clearing where most of the clan had gathered. Conversations immediately froze as every face turned to see for themselves the males accompanying their leader. There were many smiles in Valdus’s direction, and he prepared himself as bodies moved forward to welcome him back.
Others looked upon Gabe and Troy in disinterest, but those looks were from the males, and Valdus suspected that Chell had likely turned each of them down in the past. The females had a much friendlier and more respectful gaze, but none lingered too long. It wouldn’t be wise to openly ogle their leader’s mates.
Valdus was pulled into embrace after embrace of friend and family. Though he hated celebrations and was not one for such physical displays, each familiar and long-forgotten touch released some of the weight of the burden he’d carried.
He’d been kidnapped, tortured, and humiliated. When he’d been freed, he’d immediately focused on Chell and ignored many of his own needs. He didn’t want to think back to his time as a prisoner, as a victim. Experiencing the love of his clan made him realize there was no shame in what he’d endured and made him understand that someday he’d have to sit down and actually discuss the full extent of his emotional wounds with Chell.
Not today, but someday. While on Earth, he’d felt it necessary to suppress his eternal rage and conflict. But it was still within him, and he knew that trying to stifle it forever would only cause him pain.
He glanced to Gabe and Troy, who were surrounded by Chell’s cousins and being playfully interrogated. Thanks to them, Chell was willing to discuss her emotions and needs. It was a gift that would benefit them all.
A hand reached out and tugged him. He turned to find Chell.
“Mate, look up,” she said with a smile.
He lifted his eyes. Three massive shadows soared across the blush-pink sky. One breathed a wide berth of flame across the clouds.
“The borders are open again,” Mara said. “Looks like you got the royal welcome home.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chell
Bodies moved around Chell’s home, which had always been accessible to her clan but was now turning into a den of chaos. The plan to have an Earth-style wedding had brought upon this commotion, but thankfully she had Mara to sort it out.
Her cousin had been essential in the last few weeks, as Chell had been meeting with nearly every shifter leader on Solara to discuss the happenings of the previous year. It was long overdue to clear the air, plus she was using the meetings to check for suspicious behavior among Solomon’s former allies.
Back on Earth, Dagger was imprisoned, and his clan disbanded and forced to spread apart. The neighboring clans had absorbed the few of his clan that had disobeyed his orders and refused to participate in his crimes. One part of the problem was solved. There was still more to uncover and put to rest.
She scratched her head as she went over the notes from her last talk with the Lower Lake foxes. Her attention drifted as she saw a tall, sexy outline through her window. She stood and watched Troy walking alone into the distance.
The men had settled in well, even better than she’d hoped. Gabe was still undecided in his day to day tasks, except that he’d decided to grow a beard now that it was no longer forbidden. The facial hair was a decadent addition to his already stirring features.
Troy had begun to help Valdus in planning out their expanding community and making the best use of their space for building. Working with his hands suited him, and he enjoyed building homes much more than he enjoyed rushing into them while they were burning down around him.
And it occurred to her that for being her original intended match, she’d given Troy very little alone time. She put away the notes and slipped past the scurrying mess of cousins downstairs to follow him.
He meandered through the woods, and at first, she thought to tag along but quickly grew curious of where he could be headed. He never glanced back, only walked forward with no sense of purpose.
He stopped at a cabin that was still being finished and looked up at it.
“This is supposed to be your new home,” he said.
She crossed her arms. “I thought I was sneaky.”
“You are. But I can feel my mate.” He turned around. “I know you approved the design, but want a tour?”
She joined him and they entered the large cabin at the ground level. Her current home was nice, but it wasn’t meant for three mates. She wanted each of her men to have space to stretch out and have privacy if needed.
They made it as far as the kitchen before she stopped him with a kiss. He held her close as their tongues danced hungrily. They still had the same heat they’d had before. Mating and settling on Nova Solara had done nothing to strain their passion.
Her hand trailed down his strong body and gripped his cock through the soft hide pants he wore. “It’s just us.”
He licked her lower lip and caressed her cheek. “What would you like to do?”
It was a familiar phrase. One he used often, and lately, it seemed directed at Gabe or Valdus when they chose to make love together. Troy didn’t need to be in charge to be a phenomenal lover. He dominated in his own quiet way.
But now she wondered if he was the one of her mates that could appreciate the tables turning. She placed a hand on his shoulder and pressured him down. “Please me.”
&
nbsp; His brow quirked at the command, but he sank down. He lifted the hem of her short dress and pulled her underwear to the side before brushing his fingertips across her soft folds.
“Does this please you?” he asked.
“Your mouth pleases me.”
He crawled closer and devoured her pussy, shoving his tongue into her heat and nearly knocking her off balance. She gripped the counter behind her, and her jaw dropped as he feasted, taking her breath away and leaving her dizzy.
His strong hand gripped her left leg and lifted it to rest on his shoulder. “May I use my hands?”
“Fuck, yes, do that,” she panted.
His fingers plunged in, joining his lips and tongue in working her into a quick frenzy. She’d forgotten how seriously he took challenges, and apparently, commands were challenges too.
She swayed and gritted her teeth as she grew closer to her climax. He sucked her clit into his mouth and curled his fingers deep enough into her that she saw stars before her breath exploded from her lungs.
“Yes,” she hissed.
He continued to shove into her and explore every inch of her with his mouth as she shook and moaned and fell apart. He held her up and lapped at her until she flinched with oversensitivity.
“Did I do well?” he asked.
“Perfect,” she gasped.
He stood and pressed her back against the counter. He kissed her again, and this time tasted sweet and earthy. She sank into him, soaking in the bliss of a midday quickie with her mate.
“Did you want to finish the tour?” he asked.
“There are more pressing matters.” She stroked his stubbled jaw and stared into his blue eyes. “Do you know where Gabe and Valdus are?”
“Valdus is teaching him how to fish.”
“Perfect. Let’s go find them.”
“And the pressing matters?”
She clicked her tongue. “Can’t you guess? We need to make Sandra some of those grandbabies.”
Epilogue
Chell
One hand steadying her round stomach, Chell walked down the path past her home and toward a small cabin by the clan’s community garden.
It was a new construction, built quick but sturdy by Valdus and his apprentices. Only she and Valdus knew what it was for.
“There you are,” Troy said, jogging down the trail behind her. “You said we were going to talk to my mom. You know she wants frequent updates on the baby.”
“I know.” Chell glanced over her shoulder and saw Gabe and Valdus in tow behind Troy.
She’d only just started showing, and it occurred to her that as her pregnancy progressed, time would catch up between herself and her mother-in-law. Visiting was tricky when one Solaran year equaled ten on Earth.
Valdus stood on her left and kissed the top of her head. His face gave away nothing of the secret he held. The full beard helped, of course.
“It’s finished?” Gabe asked of the building Chell had stopped at. “Is this where we’re expanding the singles cabins?”
“No, that’s already in progress by the river,” Troy said. “But Valdus won’t say what this is for.”
“It’s for someone special,” Chell hinted.
Gabe stepped forward, brows scrunched. “You said no more vague shifter business.”
“It’s not quite shifter business,” Valdus said.
Chell tapped the tip of Troy’s nose. “This is my gift to you. And Gabe.”
“We have a place…” Troy looked over the house in question.
The door opened and Sandra walked out. Troy’s eyes grew and Gabe sprinted forward to hug his “second” mother, who seemed first by what Chell could tell.
“Oof! Did I do it right? They look surprised!” Sandra squealed as Troy joined in to hug his mother.
“How?” Troy asked.
“Crazy portal,” Sandra replied. “Never again. I thought I was going to throw up on Mara.”
Gabe stared at Chell, shock frozen on his face. “I don’t understand.”
Humans didn’t live on Nova Solara. It was a wild planet, and the shifters intended on keeping it that way. When Chell had brought human mates from Earth, to say there were disgruntled shifters would be an understatement.
But the rulers of Solara understood the need to follow one’s heart. And they’d listened and deliberated on Chell’s request to expand her family by one. After all, family was something all shifters understood.
“I made a case and pulled some strings,” Chell said.
“And don’t worry. Sandra can’t be challenged, as she’s not vying for a formal position within the clan,” Valdus added.
Troy glanced at his mom. “Are you sure about this? It’s a big difference.”
She scoffed. “Why would I stay alone on Earth when I could come here and watch my grandbaby grow up? Denise is insanely jealous. I told her I was moving to Tahiti.”
“And now we won’t lose more time,” Chell said.
“Plus, I’m surrounded by hulking virile men,” Sandra said dreamily. “This is the retirement every woman wishes for.”
“Mom,” Troy groaned.
“I propose a formal tour,” Chell said with a laugh. “Mara and Berge had to sneak her here from the portal, but she should get to know the lay of the land.”
Gabe and Troy smothered Chell in a warm embrace as they whispered their thanks again and again.
“Do we know if it’s a boy or a girl yet?” Sandra asked.
“Not yet. You’ll know the moment we do,” Valdus replied sweetly.
Chell wrestled free of her men’s crushing hugs and made it to Sandra. “I’m hoping for a girl.”
She’d gone to Earth to drop off her garbage ex.
She’d returned with three soul-mates and the sweetest mother. Of course, Gerri was happy to take credit. When Chell had contacted her to announce the baby, Gerri had replied, “About time! And I told you so!”
Paranormal Dating Agency World
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About the Author
Godiva Glenn is a nocturnal being, much like vampires and cats. She holds a B.A. in Literature, which more or less means she has spent more hours reading and writing than she would ever care to admit to. Luckily, all that knowledge comes in handy for her creative pursuit as a purveyor of classy smut.
Most of her recent writing endeavors circle around the paranormal/supernatural. Wolves are her preferred sexy shifters, but who knows what the future holds. Regardless the situation, she loves strong women and men secure enough to love them.
She resides in the U.S. with her amazing husband and two delightful giant cats, and dreams of traveling abroad to research locations.
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