Stefan: Le Beau Brothers: New Orleans Billionaire Wolf Shifters with plus sized BBW for mates (Le Beau Series Book 3) (13 page)

She looked up and gave him a weak smile. “It’s not every day a person sees something like that.”

“Would you like to ask me anything? Anything at all.”

“Does it really hurt when I make you go home?”

“It’s a bit... uncomfortable,” he hedged.

“Sorry about that, I didn’t know.”

“There’s no way you could have known.” He leaned forward and watched closely for a reaction. He scented no wave of fear from her, which encouraged him to take her hand. His wolf was miserable and whined quietly for its mate.

“Well, I won’t make you go away anymore, at least not until we figure this out.”

He smiled, relieved he wouldn’t have to fight that battle each day.

She stared at him for a moment, absently playing with her hair. He noticed she did that when thinking.

“So,
Mémé said there were mating signs. Is this shifter thing the only reason you’re hanging around? The unusual attraction stuff?” There was a challenge in her voice.

“Not entirely. I’ve always noticed you, even when you were very young. But, back then the signs hadn’t manifested. I assume they were dormant because you hadn’t reach maturity. You were only a teen and I was already one hundred and ninety. Asking you out would have been creepy.” When she scowled, he quickly added, “Not that I didn’t think about it. After that, I didn’t see you again until the night of the ball.”

“Really? You noticed me when I was sixteen?”

“Yes, you always stayed at the back of the crowd. It was almost as if you were hiding, but I always knew exactly where you were in the room. Perhaps my awareness of your presence was a precursor to the mating signs. Sadly, I didn’t know that at the time.”

“All these years I thought you hadn’t noticed me at all. You know, just looked right past me to the pretty girl with big boobs.” El snarled the last words like it still made her angry.

He brushed his thumb absently across her knuckles. “It seems there were misunderstandings on both sides, but we’re here now.” He thought for a moment then continued. “I’ve seen you occasionally in my dreams over the years. Your looks had changed since I’d known you at sixteen, so I hadn’t realized it was you in my dreams until you walked into the auction room. I recognized my dream woman immediately, and then you walked past and I caught a whiff of your scent and knew you were my mate. That’s why I bid the way I did, I had to have you. No other man was going to put his hands on you.”

“I guess it makes a little sense now,” she agreed. “I dreamt of you over the years, too.”

“Really?” Stefan’s smile lit up his entire face. “Believe me, I’ve spent many nights the past few years chasing that woman in my dreams, but I was always one day behind you. I would dream of you in a bar or other locations I recognized and then go there the next day. You were always just out of my grasp.”

El blushed a pretty shade of pink. “I feel like I’ve been dropped down the rabbit hole.”

“That’s understandable. This is a lot to take in.”

El chewed her lower lip, then asked, “Can I ask you a wolf question?”

“You can ask me anything. I’ll try to answer as honestly as possible.”

“When you make growl noises and snarl, is that you or your wolf?”

“That’s my wolf reacting to the situation. I’m sorry he scared you earlier. He’s very upset with himself about that.”

“Really. You can tell how he feels?”

“Yes. My wolf is like another soul, another entity living within me. When you have your wolf and wolf soul it will make sense.”

“If. If I do this,” she stated firmly.

Stefan didn’t respond. Her words hurt more than he would ever let on. He consoled himself with the fact she knew what he was and she was willing to talk about it.

“
Mémé said you felt my pain during the fight and after. Is that true?”

Stefan roughly ran his fingers through his hair, creating a natural mussed look. An expression of pain flashed for a moment in his eyes.

“Yes. You have wide-open communication right now. Because of that, you accidentally broadcasted to me what you were experiencing. I was terrified.”

He stood and began to unconsciously pace the floor.

“One moment I was sitting with Simon having a beer, and the next apprehension and fear coursed through me. Oddly, it was laced with confidence and determination. Frankly, I never want to experience that again because I knew you were in danger and I couldn’t protect you.

“My wolf about ripped my insides apart, growling and snarling his challenge, trying to get to you. It was the first time I came close to losing control of my wolf. Because the ritual is incomplete, I had no way of locating you.

“I was forced to sit and wait in agony, not knowing if you would live or die. Not knowing if or when I would see you again. I almost attacked my father when he rushed into Simon’s home, sensing my distress. It took Simon, Cade, and my father to restrain me.

“Since you were feeling instead of thinking words, I wasn’t getting any pictures or messages, only emotions. Once they calmed me down, I drove like a bat out of hell to your ranch; it was the only thing I could do. I about wore a hole through the floor waiting for news, good or bad. The only thing that gave me hope was the knowledge you were a trained fighter and the blasts of rage and confidence I felt as you battled.”

With his last words, he halted in front of the picture window and stared blindly, chest heaving, raking his hair in agitation.

Her heart had accelerated with every word he’d spoken. El hesitated a moment before she stood and wrapped her arms around him from behind. No words were offered. There were no words.

She couldn’t see past Stefan’s wide shoulders so she laid her cheek against his heaving, shuddering back and quietly held him. If she had seen his reflection in the glass, she would have watched as his eyes closed to savor the moment with his mate.

Once his body relaxed, she stepped back, unsure what more to do.

“Thank you. I needed that more than you know,” Stefan said quietly before he turned.

El’s heart ached for him. “I’m sorry I put you through that.” Then her face brightened a little. “You said this is because the ritual is incomplete. Does that mean if we complete it you would have been able to find me?”

He nodded in agreement. “Once we’re mated, I’ll be able to find you anywhere, anytime.”

“Wow. That’s kind of cool and creepy at the same time.”

A small smile played at the edges of Stefan's lips. “I suppose it is.”

Mémé
called from the kitchen that lunch was ready. Perfect timing for a much-needed break. He wanted her to think about their new situation and work her way toward accepting him. El was the type of woman who needed to work things out on her own.

Stefan gazed at El and then
Mémé. “While I was checking the truck over, I shifted to see if my wolf could sense anything from the attacker.”

El gasped; the concept of shifting was still too foreign.

“I picked up a very faint scent, but with the storm raging that night any evidence was washed away. I can’t make it out well enough to identify anyone by it.”

“I thought I saw a white tail flash for an instant.”

“You saw me.” He smiled but let the subject drop, El wasn’t ready
.

Girl Talk

El and Stefan joined
Mémé in the kitchen.

“What can I help you with,
Grand-mère
?”

“Why don’t you grab a serving plate and put some of your fresh pralines on it for dessert.”

“What’s that, Mémé?” Stefan indicated the pot on the stove. “It smells fantastic.”

“My secret recipe for crawfish etouffee.” She beamed and held up a palm. “Don’t even ask for the recipe until you’re officially a member of my family. That’s the rules, family only.”

“Well then,” Stefan winked at Mémé. “I’ll have to step up my game in winning El’s heart.”

El pretended to ignore them, but her small smile was a dead giveaway. He was making progress. Baby steps, but progress all the same.

A steaming bowl of
Mémé
’s
secret recipe was set before him and the aroma made his mouth water so badly he was afraid he might drool.

Like a precious treasure, he put the first spoonful into his mouth. His eyes fluttered shut and a low groan rumbled in the room as he savored the dish.

“Marry me,
Mémé,” he begged playfully.

Both women laughed at his expression and antics.

Then
Mémé added, “You couldn’t handle me, sonny.”

The room echoed with laughter before everyone dug in.

Mémé paused a moment to taste her etouffee then broke the tables silence. “Cher, I invited Emma, Anna, and Rose over for coffee tomorrow. Would you like to speak with them about the shifter thing?”

“Why would I...Oh.” It dawned on her that the women must all be mates, too. “Sure. I have quite a few questions I would love a woman’s answer to. No offense, Stefan.”

He laughed. “None taken. They’ll be able to give you a mate’s perspective which may be very informative.”

“I thought so as well,” Mémé agreed. “Elsa was on her own so she came to me for advice. I did the best I could, but there are differences between a relationship with a human and one with a shifter.”

When El looked alarmed, Mémé quickly added, “All good differences, I guarantee it. Secretly, I was often jealous of my little sister’s situation. I’ve never met a male shifter who wasn’t an exceptional man and a complete gentleman.”

Stefan remained silent and let Mémé sing his praises, even if she was disguising it as a blanket statement. He knew what the sly woman was up to. When El wasn’t looking he gave Mémé a conspiratorial wink.

Lunch was cleared and it was time for coffee and pralines. Stefan sipped his coffee and then bit into his praline expecting it to be like every other he had eaten. The only thing better than that praline was sex.

“Oh my goodness, El!”

Startled, she stopped mid-pour as she added cream in her cup “What? What’s wrong?”

With a mouth full of praline and drool leaking from the side, his eyes rolled in his head.

“This is the most amazing thing I’ve ever eaten. Sorry, Mémé, but El, baby, marry me immediately.”

The women looked at him and then each other and couldn’t stop laughing.

Licking his fingers clean, he stared intently at El.

“You seriously need to marry me and feed me pralines in bed every day.”

“Now the truth is out. You only want me for my desserts,” she mockingly scolded.

“I can think of many excellent reasons, besides your,” he gave her a wolfish grin, “desserts.” His heated gaze never left her eyes as he reached for another praline at the same time she did, purposely sliding his fingers down the inside of her wrist.

El gasped and blushed a gorgeous shade of red.

Mémé sat back and watched the show. She couldn’t wait to have a great-grandbaby in her arms.

*****

The next morning, Stefan was doing the chores solo as usual. He still wouldn’t let El near the barn. So, instead she helped
Mémé make coffee and organize pastries on serving plates. Any minute the women would pull up the driveway. El wouldn’t admit it but she was a bundle of nerves, but excited nerves.

When the ladies finally arrived, he was still in the barn. That was fine with her
–
she wanted to ask some questions without Stefan around.

Mémé answered the door wearing her Sunday best, the perfect image of a gentile southern lady. “Welcome to our home. We’re so honored you could join us this morning.”

The ladies exchanged greetings and sat with their coffee in the living room.

Emma was the first to break the ice. “El, I’d like to thank you again for participating in the charity ball.”

Rose quickly jumped in. “Yes, El, thank you so much. You helped raise a lot of money for the charity!”

“You’re both welcome, although, I’ll be having words with Emma later. That dress was ridiculous and you know it.”

Emma blushed a deep pink. She was so busted, but the deed was done, and the results spoke for themselves.

Anna cleared her throat. “Your grandmother tells us you recently learned shifters exist and that Stefan is your mate. We’re at your complete disposal to answer questions and offer support. Whatever you need.”

“I have so many questions; I hardly know where to start.”

“Well then, while you organize your thoughts, I’ll tell you a little about where shifters came from.” Emma took a sip and set her cup aside. “As you know, I’m a gypsy and I study voodoo. The two are a fascinating combination for both healing and magic. As part of my religion and practice, I meditate daily, and on occasion the Wolf-Goddess Luperca comes to me. The goddess is the original creator of the wolf shifters.

“You see, a long time ago she blessed a village of humans with wolf souls, creating the first shifters. She designed it so the shifter has half a soul and his human mate holds the other half. Neither can be truly complete without the other.

“This forms an astounding bond between the two, both emotional and physical. Throughout time, she has only blessed an additional handful of humans who were not mated to a born shifter.” She glanced to Anna. “Anna’s son, John, was just so blessed.”

“It sounds like Greek mythology or something. You all keep referring to me as Stefan’s mate.” El huffed a frustrated sound. “Would someone tell me what the heck that means?”

“You’re right, it does sound like mythology.” Emma chuckled. “All right, let me see. To be a mate is similar to being married, but a heap more intense since the mates were created to complete each other. Literally. The two pieces of the soul can only be fused back together by performing the mating ritual. Prior to meeting Stefan, did you feel normal, like everyone else, like you fit in just fine, or odd and incomplete? Did you feel like something was missing but you had no idea what that was?”

El nodded yes, wide eyed. “How did you know? I felt like that all the time. Now that you mention it, since Stefan has been hanging around, I haven’t felt so much like I belong on the island of misfit toys. My teen years really sucked,” El scowled into her cup as painful memories flooded her mind. “So, you’re telling me I felt that way because I needed to be with Stefan–but wasn’t?”

Before any of the women could respond, Stefan crashed through the door. “El, what’s wrong?” He frantically scanned the room for what had caused El’s distress.

“You complete ass! You knew I was right there in front of you, even when I was a teenager. But, did you approach me? No. Did you ever bother to try to talk to me? No, you just ignored me and horn-dogged around with every slut in the damn state. Do you have ANY idea how miserable my teen years were?”

Stefan stared at her with his mouth gaping in complete confusion.

Emma quickly stood between them and made the ‘T’ sign for timeout. “El, hold that thought. Stefan, it might be best if you went back out to the barn for a while.”

Stefan glanced to his mother and frowned, still obviously completely confused.

Emma patted his arm and whispered, “I’ll explain when we’re finished here.”

He looked at El for a long moment, unsure if he should stay or go. Finally he said, “I’ll just be in the barn if you need me.”

“Now, El, I understand you’re hurt and frustrated. Being a teen is hard enough without the mate complications. Still, you shouldn’t blame your mate for what happened. Until a woman matures, she wouldn’t trigger the mating signs. There was no way he would have known.”

“He may have mentioned that last night,” El admitted sheepishly.

“There, see, he didn’t abandon you on purpose. Now, what else would you like to know?”

“Stefan said the woman gets a wolf soul and a wolf. Plus she doesn’t get old. Why do you all look over twenty-five, and what would I do with a wolf soul once I had one?”

The women shared knowing looks. One second they all look like a variety of ages, and the next three beautiful women in their twenties sat before her.”

“Holy crap!”

They all busted out laughing at her reaction.

“Since you are still in your mid-twenties you won’t regress in age like Rose and I did,” Anna pointed out. “You will, however, stop ageing and look exactly as you are until you are nine hundred.”

El couldn’t stop gaping.

Anna continued. “As for the wolf question, by gaining a wolf soul, you receive all the magical powers of a shifter and the ability to shift into a wolf. Did Stefan shift for you yet?”

El felt heat rising from her chest to her face. “Kind of.”

Emma leaned forward and gently asked, “Would you like one of us to shift for you?”

El chewed her lip as she considered the offer. “The wolf won’t attack or anything, will it?”

“No.” Emma chuckled. “When you shift, you look like a wolf but retain all your human faculties.”

“Then, yes.” She set her cup aside. “I’d like to see one of you shift.”

Anna rose and stepped to the middle of the room. “Are you ready?”

El nodded.

In a blink, Anna was a petite red wolf. She sat and watched for El’s reaction.

“Wow,” she breathed. “You’re beautiful.”

Anna’s wolf chuffed a laugh and she shifted back. “You all right?”

“Yeah, thank you for doing that. The shift is so fast, not like in a movie. Does it hurt?”

“Not at all,” the three women said.

El’s demeanor changed; she was intrigued and her curiosity was piqued. “Are all wolves red? I only saw Stefan’s for a split second and I think he was more white.”

“Each shifter has human hair which contains the color of their wolf mixed in. Stefan is a white wolf.” Emma paused and studied El’s hair. “I’m guessing you’ll be a beautiful chocolate brown wolf.”

All the ladies nodded in agreement with Emma’s assessment.

“Keep in mind, El, we can’t just run around willy nilly without strict rules. The goddess decreed five absolute rules every shifter is required to follow. 

“Always put your mate before yourself.

“Respect another shifter’s mate.

“Do nothing to expose the existence of shifters.

“Do no unnecessary harm to shifters or humans.

“And respect other nonhumans.

“These are all meant to maintain shifter secrecy while providing a respectful, loving atmosphere within families and the shifter community at large.”

“That makes sense. I was expecting you to list off a bunch of outlandish requirements, but these are all very logical.” A frown slowly pinched El’s brow. “What happens if someone breaks a rule?”

Emma’s expression became very solemn.
“
Shifter punishment is very simplistic. There are only two punishments for breaking a shifter law. Depending on the severity of the crime, for breaking a lesser law like–always put your mate before yourself, respect another shifter’s mate, and respect all nonhumans–there is the punishment of blood rights.” Her expression grew sour and she shook her head. “It’s a very brutal punishment where the criminal is tied to a stake and the offended party beats him almost to death. I don’t agree with the punishment, but I haven’t come up with a satisfactory alternative yet so it has remained in place.

“For exposing shifters to the world or harming another shifter for any reason other than self-defense, the sentence is always death. It is paramount the shifters remain secret or we’ll all find ourselves in laboratory cages. The only deviation from these two punishments apply to the royal family; any crime against a member of the family is death, there is no exception.”

El remained very quiet, processing the ramifications of her possible new life.

Rose leaned toward Emma and quietly said, “Explain rogue shifters, too.”

“Yes, this is a good time to explain the difference since I brought up the death penalty. Stefan told me you already know we’re not werewolves. Oddly enough, the myth of a werewolf did come from the shifter community.

“A rogue shifter is the direct result of mates having a combined soul. If a mate is killed, the surviving mate immediately loses half of their soul. Remember, the soul was fused together by magic. The rending of a soul is horrific and normally impossible to endure for the mate left behind.