by Lisa Oliver
That’s what’s different about this place, Shadow thought as he scanned the crowds for his beloved redhead. There’s joy in these walls. Sure, the paintwork was new, as was the roof and the carpet underfoot. But looking out it was the relaxed and happy faces of his pack members that stood out the most. Everyone was clean, relaxed and happy, and it was as though every smile reinforced how positive pack life could be.
“Alpha,” Molly came over, her ever present son on her hip. “Robby’s done with the roof now, you must come over and see some time. While he was up there, I managed to convince him to paint the gables, and we even have a new front door. The house looks lovely again and I can’t wait for you and the alpha mate to see it. Oh, and the mayor called and said he’d be happy to attend the opening of the new homeless resource center next week.”
Shadow grinned. Of course, Molly was more interested in sharing news about her new roof than the fact the mayor called. But she’d proven to be a valuable PA since Shadow learned that she didn’t like working if it meant leaving her youngest at home. Now she ran Shadow’s projects as efficiently as she ran her house and mate. “Rowan and I will make a point of coming over on Monday to see the roof and thank you for the message from the mayor. Are the contractors all finished?”
“Rowan’s gran was over there this morning complaining about the mess they’d left behind. Her and her friends were armed with brooms,” Molly said happily. “The keys to the building are on your desk along with the compliance certificates.” She juggled the youngster on her hip who was staring at Shadow with wide eyes. “I’d better get this one back to his dad. See you Monday morning.”
“That woman is the model of efficiency,” Marco said as he watched Molly juggle her child as she walked away. “But I don’t envy her mate at all. She rules that household absolutely.”
“Which is why she’s the perfect PA for us.” Shadow looked around the hall again. “Where’s Rowan? I thought he’d be here by now.”
“He said he had to go down to the local council offices,” Dominic said, leaning over and grabbing a large heap of meat from the platters that ran down the middle of the table. “Our shifter council got in touch this morning and said there was a wolf related incident in town, and Rowan said he’d take care of it. He had a meeting in town with that software company lawyer too, to finalize his last payment, so it made sense for him to do both things in the same trip. Talon’s with him, so he won’t get into trouble.”
“Ooh, he’s getting the final payment,” Rutig waved his glass in Shadow’s direction. “What are you going to do now your sweet mate is richer than you are?”
Shadow chuckled. Yes, he’d been shocked by just how much money could be made from selling a computer game, but he knew for a fact an increased bank balance wasn’t going to change his mate’s loving nature. “I think he plans on revamping more rooms at the pack house,” he said. “Apart from that, I can’t see anything else changing at all.”
He looked up at the ceiling as something in the back of his brain hummed. “He’s coming. I can feel him.” Shadow and Rowan still hadn’t got a full mind link yet, although now Shadow carried his mate’s bite, their connection was a lot closer. As Shadow relaxed more and more into their relationship, he knew it was only a matter of time before he let Rowan take that final step so they could have a full mind link.
Looking over to the doors, he saw Rowan coming in, a nervous look on his face, with Talon behind him. Shadow frowned as he noticed Talon was carrying Rowan’s satchel and Rowan had two baby shaped bundles in his arms. He got out of his chair, weaving through the tables effortlessly, keen to find out what was going on. Rowan’s smile was just as open as it always was, but Shadow could see the worry in his eyes.
/~/~/~/~/
“Hi, hon,” Rowan smiled up at his mate, his heart warmed as always just from seeing him.
“I’m glad to see you too,” Shadow dropped a kiss on his head, but of course, he wasn’t going to ignore the babies Rowan was holding. “What do we have here? Something to do with the council issue, I take it?”
Rowan nibbled his bottom lip, and then looked around at all the people who were watching them. “Can we duck out for a minute. I’d like to talk to you.”
“You’re not taking those youngsters out in the cold again,” Talon said grumpily. “They need feeding, we’ve still got to find cots for them, and my hands are still sore from working out how to install blooming car seats. It’s simple.” To Rowan’s shock, Talon plucked Cynthia out of his arms, and put her in Shadow’s, who clutched and supported her instinctively. “Congratulations Alpha. Thanks to your mate’s quick advocacy skills, you’re a daddy. Now, I hope someone saved me a damn plate, because the alpha mate does not understand that someone with my awesome nature needs feeding regularly.”
Rowan hung onto Cian, rocking him gently as he studied Shadow’s face.
“We’re parents?” Shadow touched Cynthia’s blanket gently with one finger, pushing back the cover so he could see her sleeping face. “I thought you were just going to pick up the last of your money.”
Rowan shuffled between his good leg and his bad leg, trying to ease the ache. “Well, yes, I was, but then our council called, and told me to get down to the local council offices. There’d been this car accident just outside of town.” Rowan felt his tears well up as he thought about what he’d been told. “The parents are dead, and they were lone wolves, coming here because they’d heard how well this pack was doing, and the local council wanted to put them in a home, but our council couldn’t allow that because…”
“Because they’re shifters. I understand,” Shadow said gently, rocking Cynthia who’d started to stir. He had no idea how natural he was with children and Rowan felt a stir of hope.
“I had to sign for custody of them,” he said anxiously. “Our council representative was there trying to make things easier, but the local council said if no parents could be found, then they’d have to go into state care until someone could take them. And I just knew that would take too long. I mean, look at them.”
“We have custody of them, permanently?” Rowan’s heart leaped at Shadow’s use of the word ‘we’.
“We’re on trial for now, for a month, because the local council wasn’t happy that you and I weren’t married, and with us both being men and everything, but then the mayor came through, and he knew how much you’re trying to do with the homeless, so he put his two cents in. The pack house will have to be remodeled, and I was hoping Gran would…”
“We’ll handle it. All of it.” Shadow nudged Cynthia around so she rested on his broad forearm and dropped the other arm around Rowan’s shoulder. “Do they have names?”
“Er, yes.” Rowan nestled under Shadow’s arm. “You have Cynthia and I have Cian. They’re both four months old. According to our council, their parents were an alpha and omega pairing, and true mates.”
“Cynthia and Cian.” Shadow smiled and it was a loving smile that took in Rowan as well. “I guess we’d better introduce them to our curious pack members.”
“You don’t mind? About being an instant dad, I mean.” Rowan couldn’t believe how accepting Shadow was of instant parenthood. He’d been fretting about it the whole drive home.
“Your heart is always in the right place,” Shadow said softly, for his ears alone. “You saw a need and you jumped in to fill it. I don’t know the story about these little ones’ parents, but we will, and we will make sure these little ones grow up knowing just how much they are loved. You and I, we have so much love to share, and just look at the table of over eager uncles over there.”
Rowan looked over to the head table, and sure enough, Dominic, Bernie, Rutig, Craven and Marco were all straining their necks trying to see what was going on.
“And then there’s your grandmother, along with her sister elders.” Shadow nudged his chin over to the side of the hall, where Rowan’s grandmother was chatting with her friends. “We won’t be doing this alone. There’s a whole pack
willing to help us with these children.”
“That’s only because you were willing to help them first,” Rowan reminded them. “We are all so much the better for you coming home.”
“Just don’t forget, I came home for you,” Shadow whispered against Rowan’s ear. “You will always be my first love.”
Rowan felt as though his knees would give way. But as he stood proudly beside his mate, while Shadow made the announcement that the alpha pair, were now an alpha family, he cast his mind back to the dark days before Shadow’s arrival. It was all worth it, he thought. He’d gone from being the hunted one by Percy and so many others, to being one of the heroes in the story, and just as with any fairy tale that came true, he got his happily ever after.
The End.
You know what I’m going to say, don’t you, lol. This was MEANT to be a cute little standalone story where Shadow gets his boot out of his ass and Rowan gets his HEA. But then I kept writing, and all these wonderfully unique characters kept flowing out of my fingers… I have a sneaking suspicion this is meant to be book one of a new series.
But it’s not definite. I mean, you guys might not have even liked this story. Or maybe, you did think it was cute but didn’t want to know about Shadow’s friends, or if the grumpy Talon will ever find his mate. I mean, the bad guys are all in jail or dead, and the twins will keep Rowan and Shadow busy for a while. But as with all my stories, there is always something else going on around the corner.
If you get the chance, please let me know. A review is an amazing way to do it (and they seriously help me keep my pups in puppy food), but if you’re not comfortable with your thoughts being public for all to see, then you know how to get in touch with me. I would love to hear from you. I had real fun with this story, and it would be nice to visit them again.
It’s not easy for any of us to stay positive with all the stuff going on in the world right now. I hope, in some tiny way I’ve made you smile and if I did, please share that smile with others.
Hug the ones you love, my friends, and stay safe wherever you are.
Lisa xx
About the Author
Lisa Oliver had been writing non-fiction books for years when visions of half dressed, buff men started invading her dreams. Unable to resist the lure of her stories, Lisa decided to switch to fiction books, and now stories about her men clamor to get out from under her fingertips. With over fifty MM true mate titles to her credit so far, Lisa shows no sign of slowing down.
When Lisa is not writing, she is usually reading with a cup of tea always at hand. Her grown children and grandchildren sometimes try and pry her away from the computer and have found that the best way to do it is to promise her chocolate. Lisa will do anything for chocolate.
Lisa loves to hear from her readers and other writers (I really do, lol). You can catch up with her on any of the social media links below.
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/lisaoliverauthor
Official Author page – https://www.facebook.com/LisaOliverManloveAuthor/
My new private teaser group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/540361549650663/
And I am now on MeWe – you can find my group at http://mewe.com/join/lisa_olivers_paranormal_pack
My blog - (http://www.supernaturalsmut.com)
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/wisecrone333
Email me directly at [email protected].
Other Books By Lisa/Lee Oliver
Please note, I have now marked the books that contain mpreg and MMM for those of you who don’t like to read those type of stories. Hope that helps
Cloverleah Pack
Book 1 – The Reluctant Wolf – Kane and Shawn
Book 2 – The Runaway Cat – Griff and Diablo
Book 3 – When No Doesn’t Cut It – Damien and Scott
Book 3.5 – Never Go Back – Scott and Damien’s Trip and a free story about Malacai and Elijah
Book 4 – Calming the Enforcer – Troy and Anton
Book 5 – Getting Close to the Omega – Dean and Matthew
Book 6 – Fae for All – Jax, Aelfric and Fafnir (M/M/M)
Book 7 – Watching Out for Fangs –Josh and Vadim
Book 8 – Tangling with Bears – Tobias, Luke and Kurt (M/M/M)
Book 9 – Angel in Black Leather – Adair and Vassago
Book 9.5 – Scenes from Cloverleah – four short stories featuring the men we’ve come to love
Book 10 – On the Brink – Teilo, Raff and Nereus (M/M/M)
Book 11 – Don’t Tempt Fate – Marius and Cathair
Book 12 – My Treasure to Keep – Thomas and Ivan
Book 13 – is on the list to be written – it will be about Wesley and yes, he will find his mate too, but that’s all I can say about this one for now (Coming soon)
The Gods Made Me Do It (Cloverleah spin off series)
Book One - Get Over It – Madison and Sebastian’s story
Book Two - You’ve Got to be Kidding – Poseidon and Claude (mpreg)
Book Three – Don’t Fight It – Lasse and Jason
Book Four – Riding the Storm – Thor and Orin (mpreg elements [Jason from previous book gives birth in this one])
Book Five – I Can See You – Artemas and Silvanus (mpreg elements – Thor gives birth in this one)
Book Six – Someone to Hold Me – Hades and Ali (mpreg elements but no birth)
The Necromancer’s Smile (This is a trilogy series under the name The Necromancer’s Smile where the main couple, Dakar and Sy are the focus of all three books – these cannot be read as standalone).
Book One – Dakar and Sy – The Meeting
Book Two – Dakar and Sy – Family affairs
Book Three – Dakar and Sy – Taking Care of Business
Bound and Bonded Series
Book One – Don’t Touch – Levi and Steel
Book Two – Topping the Dom – Pearson and Dante
Book Three – Total Submission – Kyle and Teric
Book Four – Fighting Fangs – Ace and Devin
Book Five – No Mate of Mine – Roger and Cam
Book Six – Undesirable Mate – Phillip and Kellen
Stockton Wolves Series
Book One – Get off My Case – Shane and Dimitri
Book Two – Copping a Lot of Sin – Ben, Sin and Gabriel (M/M/M)
Book Three – Mace’s Awakening – Mace and Roan
Book Four – Don’t Bite – Trent and Alexi
Book Five – Tell Me the Truth – Captain Reynolds and Nico (mpreg)
Alpha and Omega Series
Book One – The Biker’s Omega – Marly and Trent
Book Two – Dance Around the Cop – Zander and Terry
Book Three – Change of Plans - Q and Sully
Book Four – The Artist and His Alpha – Caden and Sean
Book Five – Harder in Heels – Ronan and Asaph
Book Six – A Touch of Spring – Bronson and Harley
Book Seven – If You Can’t Stand the Heat – Wyatt and Stone (Previously published in an anthology)
Book Eight – Fagin’s Folly – Fagin and Cooper
Book Nine – The Cub and His Alphas – Daniel, Zeke and Ty (MMM)
Book Ten – The One Thing Money Can’t Buy – Cari and Quaid
Book Eleven – Precious Perfection – Devyn and Rex
Spin off from The Biker’s Omega – BBQ, Bikes, and Bears – Clive and Roy
There will be more A&O books – This is my go-to series when I want to have fun.
Balance – Angels and Demons
The Viper’s Heart – Raziel and Botis
Passion Punched King – Anael and Zagan
(Uriel and Haures’s story will be coming soon)
Arrowtown
A Tiger’s Tale – Ra and Seth (mpreg)
Snake Snack – Simon and Darwin (mpreg)
Liam’s Lament – Liam Beau and Trent (MMM) (Mpreg)
Doc’s Deputy – Deputy Joe and Doc (Mpreg)
NEW Series – City Dragons
Dragon’s Heat – Dirk and Jon
Dragon’s Fire – Samuel and Raoul
Dragon’s Tears – (coming soon)
Standalone:
Rowan and the Wolf – Rowan and Shadow (series to be determined by reader vote)
Bound by Blood – Max and Lyle – (a spin off from Cloverleah Pack #7)
The Power of the Bite – Dax and Zane
One Wrong Step – Robert and Syron
Uncaged – Carlin and Lucas (Shifter’s Uprising in conjunction with Thomas Oliver)
Also under the penname Lee Oliver
Northern States Pack Series
Book One – Ranger’s End Game – Ranger and Aiden
Book Two – Cam’s Promise – Cam and Levi
Book Three – Under Sean’s Protection – Sean and Kyle – (Coming soon)