Shifting Magic (Shifted) (3 page)

“
That was sarcasm right?”

“Right
, my father is were friendly. He just … I think he might have a small problem with this.”

“I can speak to him
. That is if you agree to the mating. You are not bound.” Ranger knew giving her an out would drive him mad, but his concern was for her not himself.

“I’m bound
, and surprisingly alright with that?”

So what about your father?”

“I’m a big girl. He won’t love it, but he will deal.”

Ranger looked down at the woman
who was now looking at him with love, or lust, or maybe it was just need. He didn’t know what she was feeling. He had all of those emotions and more running wild in his brain.

“
Nina,” he said bending to kiss her. He couldn’t hold back any longer. His whole being was on fire. The mating heat was in full tilt, making him lose control.

Nina wound her arms around the neck of this man she had known for ten minutes. She felt him
. It was as if his essence was specially made for her pleasure. His kiss was cautious. He still didn’t know if she would run. She knew his thoughts instinctively. The connection took a vice like hold on her as the kiss deepened.

S
he had always known some weres got bond mates or true mates. She hadn’t, however, expected to someday be one. No wonder the weres mated for life. There was no way she wanted to ever give this up and he had only kissed her.

“Ranger!” S
he heard the Alpha before Ranger did, pulling back to find a puzzled look on his gorgeous face. She was going to have to get this man alone and soon.

“Your
Dad is calling you,” she explained as his face fell. He feared she was retreating.

“What?
” he growled without turning. She had to think that growling at the Alpha, even if

he is
your father, was not a great idea.

“A word, with both of you,” Royal commanded with a force Nina actually felt.

“I’m on duty here Ranger. It’s probably not a great idea for me to be making out with you in the parking lot,” Nina teased.

“No
, I suppose not.” Ranger pulled back sliding an arm around her waist as they headed back to the doorway the Alpha was waiting in.

“
It would seem another of my children is to be challenged by the mating heat.” Royal was shaking his head.

“
Don’t tell me you’re going to deny the mating because she’s a witch,” Ranger barked.

“I
don’t think I am your biggest issue at the moment. Nina, there are things you need to know, things your father needs to know, before I can allow this to progress.”

“Okay
, shoot.” Nina listened while easing back against Ranger. The big bad wolf didn’t scare her. Not after growing up with Malcolm Blackwell as a father. Compared to that, Royal Cheveyo was a pussy cat.

“I think a meeting
should be arranged for us to discuss this mating. If you, in fact, wish to purse the idea of mating Ranger.”

“
You’re lucky you came out when you did or we might have already gone there.” Nina

S
miled as she  looked at Ranger in her peripheral vision. He was trying not to laugh.

“I
see. Well, as I said, there is information you need before going into this lightly. There is more at stake due to who, and what, you are.”

“More
at stake how?” Nina looked for clues in the Alpha’s expression and found none.

“P
lease just call your father. You can arrange a meeting for later today. As soon as Rory and Maverick’s child arrives, I will free up any time he is available. Ranger, you and Nina need to refrain for that long. I can’t imagine a meeting with Malcolm Blackwell would go well if his daughter arrived as a mated wolf.”

“
He’s right, that wouldn’t go well,” Nina laughed. She imagined her father blowing his stack, a stack she had seen blow many times because of her. “I’ll call him and explain the sitch. I’m pretty sure he’ll rush right over. Where should I tell him we’ll be?”

“I
think your house, Ranger, would be more suitable.”

“I’ll
tell Willow and Ryder,” Ranger saw Nina’s confused look. “I live with them at the moment,” he explained.

“
Like Emory lives with Hank and Sam?” she questioned.

“No
, Ryder is Willow’s mate. I’m just their sidekick. You are mine,” he added.

“
Good to hear. As cool as Emory’s deal is, I don’t think I’m into sharing.”

“
Neither am I,” Ranger snickered. This girl had spunk, a fire that shone with every word. What you saw was exactly what you got. She was real and open and his.

4

Malcolm Blackwell hadn’t expected to hear from his daughter that day
. So when his private line rang with her number, he picked up immediately.

“Nina
, are you alright?” he asked his first born. She never called his private line. She usually called the house and spoke to her mother.

“I’m good
. Better than good. Guess who I’m with?” she started playfully.

“I
haven’t a clue Nina. I’m quite busy today, so if you wouldn’t mind skipping the guessing games.”

“
Fine. I’m with Royal Cheveyo and family. He would like to schedule a meeting with you for this afternoon. The sooner the better.”

The request was not at all what he had expected.
“Why, may I ask, are you with the Cheveyos?”

“It’s a funny story actually. I was c
hasing one of the Alpha’s sons earlier this morning. When he didn’t pull over, I followed him to Maverick’s house and tackled him.”

“Nina
!”

“Relax
, I’m fine. Turns out the Chosen was in labor, so I drove her to the clinic.” Nina hadn’t known about the clinic before that, but she was sure her father did.

“I’ll
come and get you. Wait there.”

“
No wait, Dad, that’s not it. Really, everything is fine, just complicated.”

“
Complicated? Nina, please get to the point. Do you need my help?”

“
No, I don’t need your help, but I do need you to see Royal. There was a small complication. I was going to handle it myself, but Royal insists you be involved.”

“
Spit it out girl.” Malcolm knew that Nina was trying to soften him up whenever she danced around an issue.

“
Okay, I’m Ranger Cheveyo’s mate.”

“Shit!”

“Dad!!!”

“I’m sorry
. It was a knee jerk reaction. So one of Royals sons claims you’re his mate?”

“He
doesn’t claim it Dad. I am.”

“What!!!
God and goddess child, don’t tell me you’ve done what I think you have.”

“Not
yet, but I do intend to. Dad, Royal says he really needs to see you. He wouldn’t tell me or Ranger, why but he made us promise to wait.”

“
You will wait. That’s an order,” Malcolm raged. His blood pressure had to be sky high.

“Order shmorder
, Dad, I’m thirty years old. I can make my own choices.”

Malcolm took a deep breath
as if he was trying to center himself before continuing. “Nina, what on earth would possess you to agree to a mating with a werewolf you just met?”

“I believe they call it mate fever,” she said pointedly.

“He claims you’re his true mate?”

“
Again with the claiming. I am his true mate. Believe me when I tell you. I’m sure.”

“
How?”

“I
can feel it too Dad. Without going in to too much detail, I feel him like he’s a part of me. A part of me you, or Royal Cheveyo have no say so in.”

“
How are you being treated?”

“
Really Dad, I know you don’t much like the wolves, but it’s time to get over that and fast. They have been more than welcoming.”

“Damn it Nina
, when and where is this meeting? You can tell Royal I intend on bringing my guard.”

“Fine
, he probably expects it. Look, I have to get inside. As soon as Rory has this baby, I’ll call you and we’ll meet you at 41 Main Street, the psychics place.”

“
His daughter-in-laws’, the one they call the oracle. I know the place. Why there?”

“Ran
ger’s living there at the moment.”

“Fine
, just promise me you’ll wait for me. Don’t go off half-cocked and let him bite you.”

“I
already promised Royal the same thing. See, you two are a lot alike.”

“Nina
, don’t play with me right now. I am on the edge. Call me when the child comes. I can be at the Brook’s place in ten minutes from that time.”

“Great
, see you then,” Nina said cheerfully.

Ranger had watched as his mate handled her father. Why couldn’t this be
simple? He had thought when she had responded to his mating declaration that he had lucked out. She wasn’t human. Even if she was, that little obstacle had been met when Maverick took Rory as a mate. He didn’t feel the need to run. He thought for a second everything would fall into place. He hadn’t anticipated a power struggle between the Alpha Wolf and the Head Mage. If Nina took down Xavier, did that mean Nina’s dad could best his father? Would grown men, leaders of thousands, reduce themselves to that?” Lord, he hoped not.

“
So?” he asked, waiting as Nina let out a deep breath.

“
So far he isn’t here. That’s a good sign.”

“
It might take him a while to get here. He could still be on his way.”

“Nope
, he would be here. Poof.”

“
Poof? You can poof?”

“
Really? You turn into a three hundred pound wolf and you’re surprised I can poof?”

“
Good point. I don’t know that much about witches.”

“
Time to start learning, hot stuff.”

“I
guess so. So, do you think our kids will be able to poof?”

“Hummm wolve
s that poof. We might just start a new breed.”

“I don’t doubt it.
Come on. Let’s go meet my niece or nephew. We have a long day ahead of us.”

“
Honey, I’ve already had one hell of a day even before you showed up. I have to call the station. Technically, I’m on duty.”

“
When do you get off?”

“Now
, due to a family emergency. If this doesn’t qualify, I don’t know what does,” Nina said shaking her head. She was trying to clear her thoughts before calling into headquarters.

5

Malcolm made several calls, canceling his busy afternoon. He had more pressing matters to attend to. Nina mated to a wolf. There was no doubt in his mind that she would go through with it with, or without, his permission. His oldest child had always challenged him. Her choice of careers had not pleased him, but he had to admit she was good at what she did, and she was happy doing it.

Storming into the kitchen
, he slammed down the empty glass he found on the counter, breaking it on impact.

“
Whoa, what got into you?” His wife of forty years pushed him out of the way so she could remove the glass shards before they got in the disposal.

“ Nina just called
. Apparently, she’s mating a wolf shifter.”

“What
!” Kendra asked, now distracted from her task.

“Oh
, it gets better. She is being claimed by Ranger Cheveyo.”

“
The Alpha’s son?”

“
One of them, yes. The third, if I’m not mistaken.”

“Malcolm
, how does she know this man? Why haven’t I heard about him?” Kendra knew Nina kept some details of her life from her father. She didn’t however keep things from her.