Lure of the Blood (22 page)

Authors: Doris O'Connor

Marnie couldn’t help it. She drew the old man
in for a fierce hug and after a moment’s hesitation his arms tightened around
her, his voice suspiciously tight.

“Welcome home, young one!”

Three weeks later

Marnie listened to Ion’s deep rumble outside
her bedroom door and her whole body tightened in anticipation of her husband’s
touch. Their wedding, the day before, had been attended by none other than the
regal Carmen. Resplendent in shimmering blue, she had watched over the
proceedings, and when they had been declared husband and wife, her usually
composed face had been hidden behind a lace handkerchief, her eyes looking
suspiciously bright. Landulph, who had given her away, had tears in his eyes
and even her proud alpha husband had to clear his throat a few times, before he
could address his pack. Marnie herself had floated on a cloud of happiness. She
had hugged her own little secret to herself, having found out that morning that
she was pregnant.

When she finally got Ion to herself that
evening, his stunned expression before kissing her senseless had been without
doubt the best memory of a wonderful day, only surpassed by the night of
passion that followed. With her heightened shifter senses, making love to Ion
had set all her senses alight and left her gasping for breath and tingling for
more. His whispered promise of much better things to come, once she had
completed her first shift, filled her with renewed anticipation.

Tonight was the first night of the full moon
and already Marnie could feel her body responding. She smiled as Ion’s arms
encircled her waist, his wolf’s growl in her ear being answered by her own
wolf, yipping on her heels to be set free.

“Let’s go hunting, little one.”

The End

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