Authors: V. Vaughn,Mating Season Collection

Chosen (6 page)

I
backpedal and
thump down on my butt. I have white furry arms... legs... feet... or whatever the hell they are. Scraps of fabric are on the floor, and I realize it’s my dress.
Oh, God. I just shifted!

“Trixie.” The urge to run is great, but a large hand lands on my head, and Parker repeats my name. “Trixie. It’s okay. Breathe.”

He drops to his knees and holds my face... snout. I gaze into his green eyes, and he says, “You’re so beautiful.” I lean into his hand as it moves down my body, and he says, “I should have known you’d be a white wolf. It’s like being a natural blond. And that makes you rare. Treasured.”

While being a wolf isn’t as bad as I expected, I want to return to my human form, but I don’t know how. My heart rate quickens, and I think my tongue hangs out as I pant for air. I shake the vision of being a dog out of my head.

Parker says, “Shhh, stay calm. You’re safe here.” But I can’t stop freaking out and begin to fear I’ll never change back. I squirm to get away, and he asks, “Would you like to be human again?” I nod my head.

“Okay. Here’s what you do. I want you to close your eyes and circle in place. Imagine your skin swallowing your fur.”

I get up, and the dizziness returns as I twirl around as if I’m a dog chasing its tail before I return to my natural state. I glance down at my body.
Oh, God.
Now I’m naked. And the nude man staring at me steals my every thought, because I’m overwhelmed with the urge to taste him. I reach out to grab the sides of his face and kiss him. My nipples are solid nubs screaming for friction, and I press them against the hard planes of Parker’s chest as I grab his butt and dig my fingers into the flesh. My tongue pillages his mouth, but it’s not enough.

We’re both on our knees, and I shove him back to a sitting position. He grunts in surprise, and I straddle his lap. His hard, thick length is at my sensitive slit, and I slide over him to envelop him within my folds.

He grips my arms and pushes me from his mouth. “Stop. This is going to lead to trouble, baby.”

I whimper as I grind into his lap. “Parker, you don’t understand. I’ll die if I don’t have you. Please.” I get what they meant about heat now, because my words weren’t dramatic. I’d rather kill myself than be denied my mate’s cock stretching me and satiating my primal demand. I reach down and guide him to my entrance. His grip is tight on my hips, and he’s making an effort to block my attack. I don’t let him. I spear myself with his dick and cry out at the pain as he tears into me.

But the stinging doesn’t stop me; a force I can’t control begs for more. My release is a necessity, and I’m frantic as I ride him. Parker’s voice is low as he says, “That’s it, baby girl, take it from me. Make it count.” His mouth is nipping at my neck, and my orgasm is so close.

I throw my head back, and a voice that barely registers as mine begs, “Bite me.”

Teeth sink into my chest as I scream, and my channel grips onto the life force of my mate. I can’t stop the flexing as I come down. Parker’s tongue laps at my wound, but the pain is faint compared to my inner heat that aches for more. I’m near tears as I whimper, “Parker.”

He whispers, “I know. Hold on.”

He rolls me off and onto my hands and knees. I lower my weight to my forearms and expose myself to him. I pant out, “Hurry. I mi—” Parker thrusts into me, and my words are replaced with my moan of pleasure.

“God, that ass.” His pumping becomes chaotic as he jams into me with force. I’m climbing to my apex and begin to quake. My orgasm shatters through me, making my knees weak, and I’m about to collapse when Parker’s growl reverberates through me. “Mine.”

Hot seed explodes inside me, and the warmth is like the soothing water of a bath when you lower your aching muscles into it. I sigh in pleasure, because that’s what I needed to satiate my wolf.

We fall to the floor in a heap together, and my eyes flutter closed in exhaustion. I don’t bother opening them when Parker lifts me up in his arms. I’m lowered into something that resembles what I imagine is a cloud, and I doze off.

T
he aroma
of bacon makes me smile, and I stretch in the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept in.
Wait. Oh, no.
I sit up and gaze around the room. I have to pee, and I pray there’s a bathroom up here. A door that gives way to a glimpse of aqua makes me sneak out of bed, and I start to tiptoe to it. The carpet under my feet is so plush that I walk instead, because the sound is completely muffled. Soreness between my legs makes me wince, and heat rises to my face as I recall last night.
Last night!

Once I’m done, I race to the room in search of my bag, or clothes, or— Footsteps sound on the stairs, and I scramble to get back in the bed and pull the covers over my head. I want to die. Last night I attacked the man on his way up the stairs, and my mother must be going crazy wondering where I am.

Parker enters the room and chuckles. He sits on the bed, and it bounces. “I know you’re in there. Trust me when I say you’ve got nothing to be embarrassed about. What you did was the sexiest thing that’s ever happened to me.”

I pull the covers down to my nose. “Really?”

He yanks them down to my neck. “Really.” Parker kisses me.

And damn my body, because it responds, and I’m trembling when he’s done. There was something I needed to ask. My brain is clouded with lust, but I focus. Right. “Hold on. My mother.”

“Knows you’re here. I told her you shifted accidentally last night, and that I thought you should stay with me to be safe.”

I nod. Knowing my mother, she’s probably figured out what else happened. I pull the covers over my head again and groan.

Cool air chills my feet, and Parker says, “I guess I’ll have to get to you from this end.”

I squeal when he starts to lick his way up my legs, because his tongue sets my body on fire. I whip the covers off, and they land on the floor with a whoosh. All modesty flies out the window as I spread my legs and let him show me something else.

“
H
as
bacon always tasted this good?” I speak over the food in my mouth.

“It has for me. Shifting must have awakened your wolf senses.” Parker sips coffee, and the sound of his swallow makes me gulp. More than my tastebuds are awake.

“I’m going to get huge again if all food is this delicious.”

Parker traces a finger down my chest and under the sweatshirt I borrowed. “That’ll give me more to hold. Do you have any idea how much I love your curves?” He tweaks my nipple, and my eyes fall shut. “You’re insatiable, aren’t you?”

I nod, and my fork clatters on my plate when I drop it so I can reach for his cock. It’s rock hard, so I stand and gaze down at him. “I’ll make this quick.” I straddle his lap and take what I need.

When we’re done, I climb off him and return to my breakfast. Parker chuckles, and it makes a flush rise to my cheeks. “What? It’s your fault. You bit me.”

“Yes, I did. But are you prepared for the fact you’re most likely pregnant now?”

I shrug. “I haven’t been prepared for anything that’s happened in the last few days, but it hasn’t seemed to stop me, has it?”

“You’re not what I expected. I thought you were a shy, sheltered girl, but you’ve proven me wrong.”

I was.

Parker grins at me as if he can read my thoughts. I say, “I thought you were a pompous jerk with anger management issues.”

“I was.”

I stare at him in shock. “Did you just say that in my head?”

“Yes.”
My mate is still smiling, and his lips didn’t move.
“We can communicate with each other telepathically now that we’re mated.”

I groan, imagining the things I might have said.

“Don’t worry, you didn’t share anything I didn’t want to hear.”

I cover my face with my hands and peek through my fingers. “There’s no hiding from you, is there?”

“Nope. But that’s the beauty of our relationship as true mates.” He reaches over and takes my hand. He lifts it up and threads his fingers through mine to grip tightly. “We’re a team now.”

I gaze at the man across from me. The person that is mine for the rest of my life, and no matter what I do or say, he’s going to love me anyway. I recall how I’ve always considered being bitten a curse. But now I realize I’ve been blessed. “How did I get so lucky?”

“It’s not luck. It’s our destiny. You’ve been chosen for me, because I need your strengths.”

“And I must need yours.”

Parker grins and glances down at his lap. “Yup. I believe you do.”

I grin. “Stop. While I certainly need you for sex, I think there’s more. I can’t explain it, but you make me feel whole.” It occurs to me that for the first time in my life, I want a man around. I grew up believing they weren’t necessary. I think I’m discovering that while that may be true, Parker is adding a dimension to my world that didn’t exist.

“Do you think it’s okay for me to go home?”

Parker’s face clouds over with concern. “Sure. I can take you now if you want.”

I stand and carry my plate to the kitchen. I stop when I get there and make a show of scanning the room. “How long do you think it would take to lower the counters and cabinets for me?”

“Uh, I can probably get guys in here to get it done within the week.”

I smile at Parker. “Perfect. But do you mind if I move in before that?”

His face breaks into a huge grin, and he lifts me off my feet to kiss me. “We can get you settled in today.”

“Tomorrow. I want one more night with my mother.”

“Sure.” He opens the freezer door and retrieves her ice cream. “I’ll clean up when I get back.”

I
sniff
and grab a tissue from the box on the coffee table before us. Mom and I just watched
Terms of Endearment
. Each time I see the movie, it hits me differently. This time I realize how I’m my mother’s whole world. I lean into her. “When I have my baby, will you be there?”

“Of course I will. Are you afraid?” I told her that I was most likely pregnant, and she knows I plan to move in with Parker tomorrow.

“Not as afraid as I am of losing you.” I sit up and twist so we’re facing each other. “I’m worried you aren’t going to eat right or remember to shower.”

“I did all of those things when you were little. But you’ve got a nurturing nature and needed to take care of something. So I let it be me.”

“Why didn’t you ever date?”

“Your father hurt me badly, and when he left, I was a mess. I wasn’t the best mother during that time, so I decided to swear off men for a while. I guess it became a habit.”

I smile, and Mom starts to shake her head. She says, “I know that look. Don’t you dare think you need to find me a boyfriend.”

“What kind of daughter would I be if I stopped taking care of you?”

Mom throws a piece of popcorn at me. “I’m serious. I wouldn’t know the first thing about dating and am too old to learn now.”

“The alpha of my pack is a widower.” I grab her bowl of ammunition and add, “You might like what werewolves have for equipment.”

“Trixie! Are you talking about sex with me? Goodness, I like what Parker’s doing to you.”

I grin. “You have no idea.” I stand up to clear our snacks and say, “Oh wait. You probably do.”

Mom holds her hand up. “I’m drawing the line now. I can’t think about you that way.”

“Fair enough. But I’m not giving up the finding you a werewolf idea.” Glasses rattle as I pull the dishwasher open. “It would be good research.”

“Research? Now there’s an idea.” She tosses tissues in the garbage.

I walk over to wrap my arms around her waist and pull her in for a hug. “Mom, I may be moving out, but I hope you know I plan to talk to you every single day.”

She pulls away to place a hand on my cheek. “This is natural, sweetie. You’re supposed to move on with your life when you grow up. If you didn’t, then we’d just be creepy.”

“I like our kind of creepy. Just you wait. I’m going to hook you up with a werewolf so we can be.”

Mom kisses my forehead. “Don’t you worry about me. Go live the life you’re meant for, and give me grandchildren to play with.”

I think about the baby that is a tiny seed in my belly. I hug Mom again. “I will.”

“
Y
ou’re
sure Paul is coming.” Plastic wrap tears from the roll as I remove it to cover the potato salad I just made.

“Yes. I’m sure.” Parker places a hand on my stomach as he comes up behind me to kiss my neck. “I don’t know how much longer I can keep our secret. Do we really have to wait until twelve weeks?”

I turn to face him. “You don’t expect me to believe you’ve kept it a secret? Once I told my mother I was pregnant, you let it slip to a few people too.”

“You caught me. What can I say? There’s something about knowing my child is in your belly that strokes my ego and makes me want to brag.”

I place my hand on his chest, and his muscles flex under my fingers. He’s such a guy. “Eleven weeks is probably safe. You can tell people today.”

We’re having a barbecue for the Fourth of July, and I know Parker would love to announce our news to everyone at the party. I pull the bowl off the kitchen counter that is now regulation height. “Put this in the fridge for me?”
And stop bothering me. I have so much to get done before people get here.
I grin at how useful telepathic speaking is for getting my point across.

“Fine. I’ll go make sure everything’s ready for the bonfire.”

A small smile forms on my lips as I think about my plan. Paul, our alpha, lost his wife and true mate over a year ago. I’m told nobody’s ever had more than one true mate, and that makes him eligible for my mother. I think it’s time she got a man in her life too. But she’d kill me if she thought I set her up, so I decided it would work best if they met at a big party where neither one is uncomfortable.

I pull the grocery bag of plastic utensils out and rip open packages. The cutlery clatters as I organize it in a basket. It’s the strangest thing. Because I’ve never been one to have intuition, but something in my gut is telling me Paul and Mom belong together.

Male voices carry into the house through the screen door. I wander over to look. Ekton is here with his brothers, and they’re giving Parker a hard time about how his fire is built. I chuckle as Ekton begins to toss the logs off to the side so he can redo it.

Once Ekton discovered I was a wolf, he told me he’d always known. But he wasn’t sure how to approach me about it, because he sensed I didn’t have any idea. My feet tap as I step out onto the porch, and he notices me. “Trixie baby! How you ended up with a man that can’t build a basic fire is beyond me. But don’t worry. I’m schooling him.”

Muscles ripple when he removes his shirt, and I shake my head as I watch. “Jeannie is a lucky girl.”

One of his brothers says, “She sure is. She just kicked him to the curb last week.”

I glance at Ekton. “I’m so sorry.”

He waves a hand at me and hoists another log out of the fire pit. “Don’t be. She found her true mate.” Wood slams, and he winks at me. “She was just training me for mine.”

I turn my gaze to Parker. He unclenches his fists as he gives me a sheepish smile. I think he’s jealous of the friendship I have with Ekton, but he’s doing a good job of controlling it.

Pride surges in me as I think of his success with the all-girl football team. He’s becoming the kind of man I can imagine as a father. I put my hand on my stomach and blow him a kiss before turning back to go inside.

When I get there, my mom is coming in the door with her arms full. I race over to help. “I thought I told you to bring one fancy cocktail.” I link my arm through the handle of a canvas sack and am surprised by how heavy it is.

“I know. But I couldn’t decide. At first I got strawberries for daiquiris, and then the pineapple looked good, so I thought maybe a rum punch.” Her bags clunk on the counter, and I peek inside the one I’m holding before adding mine. There’s a variety of fruit juices in it.

Mom begins to remove items from her bag. “Look at this watermelon. How could I resist it?”

“Fine. But something tells me this is just a warning of what kind of grandmother you’re going to be. I expect my children will be showered with too many gifts.”

“Don’t you know it. But don’t call me a grandmother. That makes me sound so old, and I’ve got a few months left.”

I chuckle. My mom had me when she was seventeen, and thirty-six is hardly old. “Do you realize some women are just starting to have babies at your age?”

She glances over at me with wide eyes. “Perish the thought. You were all I ever needed.”

I hand her a sharp knife to slice the fruit, and the cutting board claps on the counter when I set it down. “I’m just saying you’re still a catch and have plenty of years left for love.”

“Who says I haven’t started looking?”

She pulls her shirt out and steps close to me as she says, “Look at this sexy bra I bought.”

It’s pink with black lace trim. “Nice.”

She turns around and arches her back to stick her butt out. “And did you see my ass in these jeans? I’m one hot number.” The screen door swishes open just as she slaps her bottom and adds, “Don’t you just want to smack it?”

I glance up as Parker and Paul approach us. The look on their faces is priceless, and I cover my mouth as I giggle.

My mom turns around to them and lifts her hand in a small wave. “Hi.”

Parker says, “Paul Ryan, this is Caroline Quinn, my future mother-in-law.”

Paul takes her hand and kisses it. She says, “You sure you want to do that? Have you seen where that’s been?”

My alpha breaks into a huge grin. “That’s precisely why I wanted to. You do have a fine backside.”

I wink at Parker.
“I told you they were right for each other.”

Mom says, “Goodness.” She makes a show of scanning him with her eyes. “And you’re the alpha. Come cut fruit with me, and I’ll tell you what I do for a living.”

My mate grabs my hand.
“I think we should leave them alone.”

We make our way outside, where people are milling around, and I greet members of the Winter Valley Pack. I’m happy to see Katie and Devon, and we spend time chatting. They’ve been wonderful in helping me assimilate into my new family.

The barbecue goes well, and by the time it’s nightfall and the fire’s roaring, I steal away for a moment alone. I’m down on the dock when Parker finds me. He says, “Word is out that you throw a great party.”

He wraps his arms around me, and I gaze up at him. “It’s easy to do when you’re working with crazy werewolves. I think they’d be happy anywhere there was food and alcohol.”

I lean my head against his chest and inhale the scent that wraps me in a cocoon of love. I try to imagine what my life was like before Parker. But it’s a distant memory that’s faded compared to what I have now. “You make me the happiest woman alive.”

Parker grips my arms, and I lift my face up to him as he says, “You’ve done the same for me.” He lowers his mouth to mine and kisses me tenderly. His hands move down to cup my bottom, and I meld my body to his. He murmurs in my neck, “I love you more than I thought possible, Trixie.”

Thick hair slips through my fingers as I hold the back of his head. “I love you just as much.”

My mother’s laughter carries over to us, and I glance toward the water in her direction to discover she’s in a canoe with Paul. I whisper. “Look at that.”

Parker nuzzles my neck and says, “I think she might help heal his broken heart. Every man deserves a good woman in his life.”

I pull away to gaze into the green eyes that I plan to see when I’m old. I realize Parker has melted through my icy facade to warm me up in every way. “And every woman deserves a good man.” This time when we kiss, I imagine we’re giving each other the pieces that were missing to make us whole.

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Called by the Bear
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Tempted by the Bear
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Called by the Bear
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