Bosun (7 page)

Authors: V. Vaughn

But while I do doze off, it is fitful. My dreams alternate between the pain in Bosun’s eyes to my imagined torture of turning into a werewolf. I untangle my legs from my sheets and force myself out of bed. Today is about to get much worse as I tell my best friend I’m leaving and putting her out of a job in the process.

I make it to work before Katie and have the coffee ready for her when she arrives. While I haven’t had an appetite in days, I know how much my friend loves pastries, and I stop by a bakery on my way. I lift a jelly donut and hold it out to her when she comes in the back room.

“Donuts? Is this a good sign or a bad one?”

I grimace as if she’s going to hit me. “A bad one. I’m sorry, but I’ve decided I really am going to move to Paris.”

Katie stares at me and takes a bite of her treat. Bright-red jam oozes out, and a blob splatters on the floor. “Shit.” She stoops down to wipe it with her napkin.

I sigh. “I think it’s best for Bosun if I’m not around to remind him of us. So I have a business realtor coming today to figure out if she can sell this place as is, or if I’m going to do it piecemeal.”

“Wow. That was fast.”

“Yeah. I think it’s for the best. I’ve already got a job and place to stay lined up. So the sooner I can go, the better.” My eyes tear up, and I will them to stay put. “For everyone.”

“Not for me.” Sugar is on her chin, and I reach over to brush it off as she says, “I’m going to miss you so much. You better text me everything.”

“You’re not mad at me for breaking Bosun’s heart? And not joining the pack with you?”

Katie huffs. “I can’t be. I’m the one who took off for a year because I couldn’t face being a werewolf, remember?” She reaches for another donut. “I get it. Go have your adventure and find your sexy Frenchman. If being with Bosun is meant to happen, you’ll come back. And if not changing can let you escape the true-mate bond, then good for you.”

“Do you think it works that way?” My heart sinks as I imagine that I could actually fall out of love with Bosun.

“No, I’m positive it doesn’t. But I know why you have to go.”

She does, because she tried it too. “You know you’re the best friend in the world, right?”

“Yup. And don’t you forget that when you’re looking for my birthday present.”

I pull my friend into a hug. “Thanks.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

M
y apartment has a small front porch that is big enough for a chair and a tiny side table. The wicker creaks as I sit. After a depressing day at work that left me with the decision to put my whole shop in storage rather than trying to sell it, I crave a drink and fresh air. Hell, more than one drink. I glance at the bottle I brought along with my glass as I reach for my wine. While the sun has set, the heat of an unusually warm day is still present, and I gaze out at the woods. The low hum of traffic is in the distance, and peepers are singing. Occasionally, a truck changing gears rises above it all to distract me.

I sip the tart flavor of my sauvignon blanc and recall the soothing sound of water lapping at Bosun’s deck and how it felt to be in his arms. Blinking back the burn of tears, I think about how it serves me right to finally fall in love and have it crush me like a bug. There’s a long list of ex-boyfriends who would probably cheer if they knew Devon Reilly finally got hers.

Liquid splashes in my glass as I refill it. I take a large swig and close my eyes to envision a sexy Frenchman. I can’t quite grasp the face I used to see, because images of Bosun are superimposed over it.
Damn it.
Snapping my eyes open, I take another swig of my drink and work on another fantasy. I practice my rudimentary French as I imagine sitting in a cafe and flirting with the waiter. “Garçon!” But I can’t remember any more, so I follow it up with “Brie, champagne, lingerie.” I giggle at myself, but my laugh turns to tears.

I gulp down more wine, hoping it will stop my crying. As the alcohol burns its way down my throat, I tilt my head back and let out a howl. The release of my pain is soothing, and I continue with a few more. I’m sure my neighbors are wondering what the hell is going on, so I stop before Myrtle calls the police.

When I do, I hear a real wolf howl. The sound is deep and resonant as it reaches into me and grips my heart. I whisper. “Keep calling. She’ll answer.” But when the male’s call doesn’t get a reply, I decide to howl again in sympathy.

This time the wolf’s howl is closer, and I wonder if maybe I’m imagining it. I lift my wine glass for another sip and mumble to myself, “This is going to suck in the morning.” And I finish the contents.

My goblet thumps on my tiny table, and I notice a pair of eyes glowing in the woods. I’ve seen them before, and now that I know wolves aren’t interested in harming humans, I decide to investigate. After all that’s happened, I still haven’t seen a wolf up close. I climb awkwardly down the stairs in my inebriated state to make my way across the road.

As I approach the edge of the forest, a wolf steps out. His fur is silver with smudges of gray, but his eyes are what I’m drawn to. They’re the same pale blue as Bosun’s, and it makes me wish it were him.

The wolf dips his head, and I reach out to touch his head. He leans toward me as if to indicate I can pet him. So I do. The fur is silky under my fingers, and I drop to my knees to use both hands. I had a dog when I was a child, and I recall how she was my source of comfort when life had me feeling down. I reach my arms around the wolf as it leans against me, and I lay my cheek on its back.

I sit up and gaze into the wolf’s eyes. “You’re beautiful.” He nuzzles my hand, and I return to petting him as silent tears roll down my cheeks. The chill of night has arrived, making me shiver. Swiping my sleeve across my face, I stand. “I have no idea who you are, but thank you for this.”

The wolf begins to pace in a circle, and I watch, fascinated by the movement. As I do, the animal form begins to morph into a man. When he’s done, I’m presented with a naked version of Bosun.

“Oh my God. It’s you.”

“I heard your call.” He steps forward and cups my face. “Devon, please don’t go.”

I break away and whisper, “I’m so sorry. So sorry.”

“No.” Pain flickers in his eyes. “I’ll go to Paris with you.

I reach up to hold on to his forearms. “You’d leave the pack for me?”

He nods. “Nothing matters without you. Nothing.”

He’s right. Nothing does matter without Bosun. His hands are hot on my skin, and I melt in his touch. In that instant, I know I can’t ever leave Bosun Lindholm, and I was a fool to think otherwise. This is my true mate, and no matter where I go, my heart belongs with Bosun. I grab the back of his head and thread my fingers through his hair to pull him down for a kiss. “I was wrong to think I could live without you.”

Bosun groans and scoops me up into his arms. “Then don’t.” He carries me across the street and up my stairs. I squirm to be released, so he sets me down. The doorknob is cold in my fingers when I reach down to turn it, and my mate grabs my hand when I start to lock it. He says, “You’re drunk.”

I grin at him. “I’ve managed to get a wolf in my house, and I don’t intend to let him leave.” I push his hand away, and the deadbolt clicks as I lock the door anyway.

He lets out a low growl. I kick off my shoes as I stalk toward him. He steps backward with a smirk on his face. “Seriously. I think you need to sober up before we do anything you’ll regret.”

I shake my head and say, “I’ve done this sober. Don’t make me hunt you down.” I break my gaze as I pull my shirt over my head.

“You’d never catch me. But as a wolf...” He raises his eyebrows at me, and the zipper of my jeans grinds down.

“When you turn me into a werewolf, you’re going to be in so much trouble.” I stop walking to wiggle out of my jeans and panties.

He licks his lips as he scans my body. “Nice ‘wear.” Bosun glances down the hall to my bedroom. “Got a drawer I can go through?”

The satin of my bra is slippery on my arms as I let it fall to the floor. “Whatever for? Rumor has it you don’t wear any.” I let my gaze land on his erection and let out a small growl of my own as I move forward. When I get close enough, I jump into his arms and wrap my legs around his waist. “Let’s go have wild sex, and then you can explain to me how we seal our true-mate bond.”

***

S
ix months later

I glance across the red-and-white vinyl tablecloth at my best friend, Katie. Her plate is stacked high with potluck food, and she knows who made each dish. She winks at me as two older women join our table at the pack clubhouse. I figure out the reason why when one places her hand on my pregnant belly.

When the older woman removes her hand, she says, “I hope you have my eggplant on your plate. You need the nutrients.” Monthly meetings for the pack include potluck dinner, and it’s a competition among the more established women to see who has the best recipes.

Katie says, “Paula, do you really think I’d let that happen?”

The gray-haired lady smiles at my friend. “Of course not. Brindle did find a good one.”

The familiar voice of my mate sounds behind me. “Paula, how do you think I did?” Bosun leans down to plant a kiss on her cheek, and she flushes as she bats him away. He taunts her further. “Uh-oh. I think maybe you’d been pining for me all this time. I’m sorry if I broke your heart.”

“Bosun Lindholm, stop.” She giggles, and I smile at my husband’s teasing.

He places an overloaded plate next to mine and whispers in my ear, “She wants me.”

I whisper back, “Don’t they all?”

“It’s the howl. It always gets me my girl.”

I place my hand on his cheek to kiss him. “Yes. It does.”

*********

R
aven reconnects with more than a friend when she returns to Winter Valley for a high school reunion in
Berch
, coming soon....

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V. Vaughn also has a complete bear shifter serial -
Called by the Bear
available in Kindle Unlimited.

Called by the Bear Parts 1-3

Called by the Bear Parts 4-6

Called by the Bear Parts 7-9