A Wolf's Mate Read online

  “Bastard,” said Nick.

  She nodded as a tear splashed from her face and fell onto her lap.

  The next shock for her had been the pregnancy.

  “My father hit the roof when I told him I was having a baby.”

  He’d thrown her out and made her go live with her aunt. It had been her who’d held Ava’s hand while she’d given birth to Jake. She’d never revealed to her father, to anyone, including Jake, the identity of his dad. Maybe it was wrong to keep a secret like that but she was scared he’d go looking for him and in some way that monster would corrupt her perfect son.

  “What’s your son like?”

  “He’s a foot taller than me which isn’t surprising because his father was six three. He’s also a great football player like his father. He’s a junior at the University of Florida, doing very well and I think he’s probably going into law which will mean more schooling. He also has a very nice girlfriend. My fear is he’ll marry and make me a grandma at the ripe old age of thirty-seven.”

  “You’d make the sexiest grandma I’ve ever seen.” He squeezed her hand again.

  Yeah, her son would fly the nest for good one day and she’d be all alone. She took a deep breath glad that she finally told him about Jake. Best thing was he didn’t seem to care.

  “We’re almost at Maisey and Lucas’ place,” said Nick pulling onto a driveway of a townhouse on the outskirts of town.

  They got out and Nick carried the slow cooker to the front door and rang the doorbell. Maisey answered, dressed in jeans and a sweater.

  “Come in and I’ll take this for you,” she told Nick. “Lucas just called to say he’s on his way and not to eat all the chili before he gets home.”

  “Too late we ate it on the way here,” said Nick.

  “You wouldn’t dare,” said Maisey. “Come on through to the kitchen. Take your coats off, and make yourself at home.”

  Ava followed Nick and Maisey through to the back of the house. She stopped to look at the photos on the wall.

  “Are these your parents?” she asked looking at one of a couple standing by a lake.

  “Yes, that’s the folks.”

  They looked an older couple and Ava guessed they’d had her later in life. She looked at the next one of them; her dad was holding a cello, her mother a violin.

  “Do you parents play?” asked Ava pointing at the snap.

  “Yes, in the Montana Symphony Orchestra,” said Maisey.

  “Wow,” said Ava.

  “They were also university professors,” added Nick.

  “Really? What subjects?” asked Ava.

  “Dad taught physics and chemistry, Mom, math and statistics. And yes, they hate that I own a yoga studio and follow in neither their academic or cultural pursuits.”

  She knew what it was like to try and live up to your parent’s expectations. Her father had been in his grave close to a decade but she was still trying to fill his shoes, doing things that she knew he’d approve of more than she actually wanted to do herself. Maisey was proof you could break free.

  “In fact, why don’t you come with me tomorrow. It’s Charlotte Renner’s baby shower and her sister-in-law Lilly is throwing it. My mom will be there and I’d love you to meet her.”

  Ava saw Nick give Maisey a sly glance. Did he not want her to hang around their mutual friends in case she got ideas that the two of them were getting involved or what was the deal here?

  “No, really. I don’t know them and I’d be imposing.”

  “If you come along with me then it’s the perfect way to get to know everyone,” said Maisey raising her eyebrows and looking at Nick.

  Something was going on between these two, but she wasn’t quite sure what.

  “Okay,” Ava finally said.

  “Great, I’ll come by and pick you up around nine a.m.”

  “Oh, and I’m not at the same motel now. I moved.” She looked at Nick.

  “You didn’t like it or what?” asked Maisey.

  “Too many complaints about noise.”

  She wasn’t going into too much detail, but now it was her, not Maisey who glanced slyly at Nick.

  “Well, just let me know where it’s at and I’ll be there.”

  The door opened and in walked a tall, dark-haired man around the same age as Maisey.

  “Hi, sorry I’m a bit late. Did some overtime and I’m starving,” he said, taking off his jacket.

  “Lucas, meet Ava. Ava my fiancée.”

  Ava put her hand out to him. He shook it and she detected a similar musky odor that she had on Nick. Same aftershave perhaps?

  “Okay, you guys, after Lucas has cleaned those dirty paws of his, let’s eat,” said Maisey.

  ****

  Nick had been on tender hooks during the entire meal. He hadn’t thought this a great idea. One little slip could cost them everything. And taking Ava to Charlotte’s baby shower was in his opinion walking on thin ice.

  “You worry too much,” said Maisey when they were alone in the kitchen rinsing out the slow cooker and Lucas was talking to Ava in the living room.

  “Just warn everyone to be careful what they say. Like you earlier mentioning Lucas’ dirty paws.”

  “She probably thought I was messing around.”

  “But think first, talk only after.”

  “Yes, sir. Now grab those plates and the chocolate cake because it’s time for dessert.”

  “You know you’re not supposed to be eating this sort of thing.”

  “Lucas is going to take me running after so I’ll burn off the carbs.”

  “Just don’t scare us again.”

  Maisey had been diagnosed with diabetes just before Christmas and was being looked after with the utmost care by Charlotte, who pretty much took care of all the shifters now. They even had their own hospital that Lucas had helped build and they’d recruited a couple of shifters who happened to be doctors from outside the area. Things were almost perfect for the group which was why Nick didn’t want anything to go wrong. He followed Maisey into the living room where Ava was drinking coffee and looking at more photos on the wall.

  Shit, it was Maisey and Lucas as their wolf halves. It was a shifter tradition to have a photo taken like that after an engagement was announced. There was also one of Maisey and her parents after she’d graduated high school. And yet another of her parents on their wedding day. Another shifter tradition.

  “You guys must love wolves,” said Ava.

  He didn’t say anything, either did Maisey or Lucas.

  “I mean you have so many photos of them. Not paintings or drawings, but actual photos.”

  “I love them,” said Maisey.

  “Did you take these photos? I mean it looks like the wolves actually posed for you.”

  Maisey looked at him, then at Lucas, and then back to Nick, who wanted to mouth I told you so.

  “Yes, there’s a sanctuary nearby and you can go visit them and even take photos. They’re very tame,” said Maisey. She’d turned red and was stumbling over her words. She was about to give them away. He sensed it down deep in his wolf bones.

  “Maybe you can take me there one day. I mean, I think wolves are fascinating animals. I’d love to see some up close, even pet one.”

  Oh, you’ve already done that and a hell of a lot more.

  “So what do you guys think of taking them off the Endangered Species list?” continued Ava.

  Shit, she wasn’t going to let it rest. He might have to go over to her and kiss her just to shut her up and take her mind off what she’d seen.

  Nick’s heart beat faster. He could hear both Maisey and Lucas’ picking up too.

  “You’ll get lots of differing opinions about that around here,” said Lucas.

  “I would imagine with so many ranches in the area,” said Ava. “You always think of them as dangerous beasts.”

  Had she just referred to them as beasts?

  “Cake anyone?” asked Maisey holding up the cake stand. br />
  “I’d love some,” said Ava.

  Well done, Maisey.

  Nick finally blew out the air he’d been holding in his mouth during that brief but tension-filled conversation. They sat down and Maisey cut four slices of cake and put them onto the plates, handing one to each of them.

  “While Maisey and Ava are at the baby shower we could go running,” said Lucas.

  “Great idea. You want me to swing by and pick you up around noon?” asked Nick.

  “I’ll be ready and waiting,” said Lucas.

  “No wonder you guys are in such good shape. You run all the time,” said Ava. “I’m definitely going to do that with you one of these days. I should do it tonight after eating this delicious cake.”

  “My mom made it,” said Maisey.

  “It’s almost sinful,” said Ava. “So when’s the big day for you two?”

  “First Saturday in June,” said Maisey.

  “She insisted on being a June bride,” said Lucas swirling his fork around to get the last of the chocolate frosting from his plate. “Did you know that Nick is going to be my best man?”

  “No, no I didn’t. Have you guys been friends for long?”

  “Only since November,” said Maisey.

  Oh no, don’t go into too much detail. Like Lucas and I both picking up your scent when you were near your heat cycle and having a threesome.

  “We sort of ran into one another close to where Nick has his cabin,” continued Maisey.

  “Have you been there yet?” asked Lucas.

  “No, I haven’t,” said Ava.

  “It’s close to where my parents have their place and it’s so peaceful,” said Maisey.

  “No wolves hanging around I hope?” asked Ava.

  She looked directly at Nick. He had a feeling she was up to something.

  “Why don’t I take you there tomorrow night and you and you can check it out for yourself,” said Nick.

  “I would love to.”

  “And speaking of tomorrow, I have to get up early for a long distance business call,” said Nick finishing the last of his cake.

  “Can I use the bathroom before we head out?” asked Ava.

  “Sure, let me show you where it’s at,” said Maisey.

  The two women left and Nick stood as did Lucas.

  “Shit, that was a close call earlier,” he said.

  “I didn’t think this was a great idea, but you know Maisey,” said Nick.

  “You know me what?” she said returning to the living room.

  “Do you really think it’s a good idea to take her to the shower tomorrow?” asked Lucas.

  “I have everything under control,” said Maisey.

  “You think she suspected something when she saw the photos of us?” asked Lucas.

  “I’m not sure but thank God she finally dropped the subject,” said Nick.

  “Shit,” said Maisey.

  “What is it now?” asked Lucas.

  “I just thought of something. If she heads out the other door from the bathroom and into our bedroom, I have that photo of us as wolves, the one where I had our engagement engraved in the silver frame.”

  Chapter Twelve

  She tried to entice him into coming into her new motel room. She knew something wasn’t right. The wolf fur, all the running, and those photos she’d seen, but pumping him for more information wasn’t her only motivation for getting him over the threshold.

  He’d won her over and at this point, she didn’t care what he was. Tonight she was horny. Had been all evening sitting opposite Nick, looking at his handsome face, feeling his muscular thigh brushing against her own. She’d been tempted to put her hand on it, work her way up to his cock, but she’d been able to control herself thinking that sex would be on the menu for later. Now it was clear it wouldn’t be.

  Ava stripped off her clothes, pulled on her T-shirt and got under the covers. She actually liked this place, this room better than the previous one, so maybe being politely asked to leave had been for the best.

  She flicked off the light thinking about what she’d seen. The photos of the wolves whose eyes looked familiar and very much like Maisey and Lucas. She hadn’t noticed it until she’d sat talking with him while Nick and Maisey had been out in the kitchen.

  Werewolves…did she even believe they existed? If Nick was one too, how come he’d not bitten her? Had it been a full moon in the last week or so?

  Imagine if this was true. She knew that her supervisor had thought he was sending her on a dead-end case. One that no other agent wanted, and now she was going to blow the lid off all the paranormal stuff that was really happening. Werewolves and most likely werebears were living in Western Montana. She’d be the star. The person her father could finally be proud of. Okay, he would have probably have preferred that she catch one of the guys on the most wanted list but this could be her scoop.

  She looked up at the ceiling. But what if Nick and his friends were rounded up? Locked up, experimented on? What if she never saw him again? She bit her lip not wanting to think about them being herded up and ridiculed. She knew what humiliation was like.

  An image of Nick sprang to mind. She grew wet just thinking about him and before she realized it, she was stroking her clit. She caressed it harder, thinking about him touching her down there. The wonderful orgasms. Her climax washed over her. Not a satisfying one like the type Nick gave to her, but it would have to do.

  She rolled onto her side. She’d dig a little deeper tomorrow when she went to the shower, and then when she went to his cabin. Deep in her mind she knew it might come down to one of two things—her career and a possible promotion, or Nick.

  There was no such thing as a woman having it all.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Ava had rushed out to buy a last minute gift for the shower. The snow had turned to sleet and she followed behind Maisey as she made her way to a house whose front door had a paper stork attached to it. It was open and both of them headed inside and wiped their feet. A pretty young woman with a little girl sticking close to her side greeted them.

  “Hi, Maisey.”

  “Hi, Lilly. I’d like you to meet Ava Spencer. Ava, this is Lilly Renner, Charlotte’s sister-in-law. She’s married to Christopher Renner. And this is their cute as button daughter, Kaitlin.”

  “Hi Lilly, hi Kaitlin.”

  The little girl smiled at Ava but then hid behind her mother

  “I think she’s a little overwhelmed with so many people in our house at one time. Come on through. We’re waiting for a few more guests and we’ll get this party started,” said Lilly.

  Ava followed behind the two women as a man and a Pomeranian passed by them.

  “Christopher, this is Ava. Ava, Christopher Renner.”

  “Hi, Christopher.”

  “Nice to meet you. And this is Barney.”

  The dog barked twice.

  “We’d love to stick around and chat but we’re going for a run while you ladies take over the house.”

  “Daddy,” said Kaitlin tugging on his jacket.

  “Honey, you want to come with me or stay for the party?”

  She looked at her mother and then to her father. “I want bear cake.”

  “Then you have to stay with us,” said Lilly.

  “Save some for me,” said Christopher, attaching Barney’s leash to his collar.

  He headed out the door as Ava continued walking until they got to a room at the back of the house that overlooked a huge yard with lots of playthings including a slide, swing, and playhouse.

  There had to be at least fifty women either sitting around talking. Others were in the kitchen drinking, and even more were outside on the patio. Ava hadn’t expected the shower to be this big of an event.

  “This is Ava. Ava, these are some of the most wonderful people you’ll ever get a chance to meet,” said Maisey.

  Ava lifted her hand and waved.

  “You want to put your gifts on this table and we’ll hav
e Charlotte open them once we get started. Speaking of which there she is,” said Lilly.

  Charlotte, who’d she’d seen at Downward Facing Wolf many times, headed out from the kitchen with three other women.

  “You’ve met Melanie but I don’t think you’ve been introduced to Emily Burgress yet? Or my mom,” said Maisey.

  “No, I don’t believe I have,” said Ava.

  Ava immediately recognized the woman from the photos at the house.

  “Ava, Emily. Emily, Ava.”

  “Nice to meet you all.”

  Two more women arrived and hugged Charlotte before rubbing her belly.

  “Okay, we’re all here, so Charlotte you sit in our special chair over there, and we’ll get underway,” said Lilly.

  They’d decorated a rocking chair with pink and blue streamers.

  “You changed your mind about knowing what you’re having?” asked Maisey’s mom.

  “Nope. Aiden keeps bugging me about it, but I want a big surprise on the day.”

  “I hear your doctor’s one hugelious bear,” said an older lady.

  “Sarah,” said Emily slapping her hands.

  “His name happens to be Bear,” said Maisey turning to Ava.

  Was she buying that, bears and wolves? But these women all looked like she did. In fact, some of them looked more human than her.

  “Let’s start opening gifts and then eat some food,” said Lilly.

  Charlotte unwrapped the usual shower gifts—sleepwear, bibs, Diaper Genie—and then she tore off the paper on Ava’s to reveal a box of diapers.

  “Sorry, it was sort of last minute,” said Ava.

  “It’s perfect. I don’t think you can ever have enough of these things,” said Charlotte.

  “Open mine, this one’s mine,” said Kaitlin carrying a package over to Charlotte.

  “I wonder what this can be?” asked Charlotte shaking it. She pulled off the tape and pulled out a stuffed bear.

  “Oh my, it’s the most beautiful toy I’ve seen and I know your cousin is going to love this in his or her crib,” said Charlotte.

  “Kaitlin loves bears,” said Lilly. “She’s almost obsessed with them.”