by Alanea Alder
"Isn't she gorgeous?" Marco whispered sounding choked up.
Each man looked like he'd been hit between the eyes with a two-by-four. Penny was passed around until each man had a chance to cuddle her and get a smile of his own.
Colton reached into his pocket and handed Rheia a long, white, rectangular box. "Open it."
With trembling hands she opened the box and gasped. Colton had dipped deep into his savings to get this made for her last minute, but her reaction was worth it. Rheia threw herself in his arms crying again.
"I love you so much." She buried her face in his shirt.
"You and Penny are my entire world, how could I do any less?"
She sniffled and looked up. "You love us that much, huh?"
Colton lowered his voice. "Indeed."
Rheia blinked. "Did you just quote Stargate?"
Colton smiled. "Maybe."
Penny reached out from Radek's arms wanting to see the necklace. Colton winked at Rheia, knowing she hadn't seen the inside yet.
"It's a locket baby girl." He very gently pried it open and revealed miniature portraits of himself and Penny. He turned it. Inscribed on the back he had chosen; My Healer.
"Put it on me," Rheia ordered. "I'm never taking it off."
Colton opened the fastener and placed it around her neck. "Merry Christmas, my love."
"Sonofabitch!"
Everyone turned to see that the silver globe over Keelan opened, dumping pounds of purple glitter all over the witch.
Colton looked up to make sure he wasn't standing under anything.
"You get a free pass tonight, because of Penny, but you're fair game tomorrow," Sascha promised.
Colton gave him an exaggerated salute.
Radek raised an eyebrow.
Colton shrugged. "Just a friendly, ongoing, personal battle. They turn Keelan purple and taunt me about my mate giving them a physical, we 'accidentally' electrocute them. You know, good clean fun."
Athan chuckled. "It almost makes me miss being in a unit. Almost."
Rheia turned to her brothers, "How long are you staying?"
Radek went to toussle her hair and noticed the braids. Grinning he lowered his hand. "A couple days."
"I'm so glad you're here to watch me give Colton his present." She smiled up at him slyly and stood back from their semi-circle.
She reached down into the front of her dress and Colton wagged his eyebrows at her.
She laughed. "Not those."
She opened a small pouch and let the stone fall into her hand; seconds later it turned amber, lighting up brilliantly in the dim ballroom.
Excited whispers ignited all around them; paranormals knew what this light meant.
Colton tried to get air but found that he couldn't. His entire focus was on the soft, warm light in his mate's palm. When he started to see dots, his knees tried to give out. A solid whack to the back had him sucking air into his starved lungs.
"Breathe, you idiot! And, congratulations," Sascha said smiling wide. He picked up Colton's hand and shook it.
Aiden pushed his way through the growing crowd, Meryn in tow. He looked from Colton to Rheia to Colton again. "Brightest Blessings on your child!" he boomed, pulling Colton into a hug.
Meryn and Rheia were hugging and Meryn was jumping up in down in excitement.
Colton felt a tug on his jacket. Penny was looking up at him with a puzzled expression.
He picked her up and settled her on his hip. He walked over and pointed to the stone in Rheia's hand.
"Do you see that stone?" Penny nodded.
"It's a very special stone. It let's paranormals know right away if a mommy gets pregnant, that way every precaution can be taken to make sure that mommy and baby are healthy. Since the stone your mommy is holding his glowing, that means she's going to have a baby. You're going to be a big sister, Penny," he explained.
Immediately Penny began to wiggle. Colton set her down and wrapped an arm around Rheia. They watched as Penny hugged Rheia's midsection and kissed her belly multiple times.
"Isn't she just the cutest little thing?" Aiden said proudly.
"You up to being Athair to my other child?" Colton asked.
Aiden clapped him on the back several times. "Of course! Also, Meryn and I both decided, we would like you to be Athair to my son as well."
Colton shook his best friend's hand.
"Daughter!" Meryn said stubbornly.
Aiden frowned and Colton laughed.
Rheia walked over carrying Penny. Aiden moved to one side pulling Meryn into his arms as Colton did the same with Rheia. His whole world was now complete.
"I love you Rheia Bradley. I love you Penny Carmichael," he said kissing both of his angels.
"And I love you too Colton Albright." Rheia rested her head on his chest.
Penny looked from him to Rheia and back.
"Love you, Mommy and Papa."
Everyone around them quieted. Radek and the rest of Rheia's brothers crowded around. Behind them Sascha and the Gamma Unit pushed closer.
Rheia looked up at him then down to Penny. "What did you say, baby?" she asked her voice shaking.
Penny pointed to her. "Love you, Mommy." She then pointed to Colton. "Love you, Papa."
Colton whooped loudly and pulled Penny into his arms. He threw her in the air, laughing, unable to keep the joy from spilling over.
"I love you too, Penny! You're our perfect Christmas miracle." He and Rheia snuggled her close.
He had his mate and daughter with another child on the way.
Life didn't get better than this.
EPILOGUE
Darian slipped away from the festivities. He smiled widely at the strangers who passed him in the hallway nodding his head and tipping his hat at the ladies. He got into the carriage and whistled as it wove slowly through the quiet streets of Lycaonia. Everyone in the city was at the Midwinter Ball.
The carriage dropped him off at the Alpha estate and he used his key to get in. He walked up the long staircase and headed to his personal suite. Once the door was closed he loosened his tie and walked over to dresser.
He stared into the mirror, his reflection visible by the light of the moon. He relaxed his face and let the smile slide away. He'd been dreaming of his mate almost nightly, but in his heart he knew it was too late. He watched as his lavender eyes flickered to black.
He was almost lost.
Thank you for reading!
I hoped you enjoyed My Healer.
For a full listing of all my books please check out my website
OfficialWebsite
I love to hear from readers so please feel free to follow me on Facebook , Twitter, Goodreads, AmazonCentral or Pinterest.
If you liked this book please let others know. Most people will trust a friend's opinion more than any ad. Also make sure to leave a review. I love to read what y'all have to say and find out what your favorite parts were. I always read your reviews.
Don't forget to sign up for my newsletters so you will receive regular updates concerning release information and promotions.
Other Books by Alanea Alder
Kindred of Arkadia Series
This series is about a shifter only town coming together as pack, pride and sloth to defend the ones they love. Each book tells the story of a new couple or triad coming together and the hardships they face not only in their own Fated mating, but also in keeping their town safe against an unknown threat that looms just out of site.
Book 1- Fate Knows Best- ClickHere
Book 2- Fated to Be Family- ClickHere
Book 3- Fated For Forever- ClickHere
Book 4- Fated Forgiveness- ClickHere
Book 5- Fated Healing- ClickHere
Book 6- Fated Surrender- ClickHere
Book 7- Gifts of Fate- ClickHere
Book 8- Fated Redemption- ClickHere
Reader Feedback- ClickHere
World of Arkadia- ClickHere
Bewitched and Bewildered Se
ries
She's been Bewitched and he's Bewildered...
When the topic of grandchildren comes up during a weekly sewing circle the matriarchs of the founding families seek out the witch Elder to scry to see if their sons have mates. They are shocked to discover that many of their son's mates are out in the world and are human!
Fearing that their future daughter in laws will end up dead before being claimed and providing them with grandchildren to spoil, they convince their own mates that something must be done. After gathering all of the warriors together in a fake award ceremony the witch Elder casts a spell to pull the warrior's mates to them, whether they want it or not.
Each book will revolve around a unit warrior member finding their destined mate and the challenges and dangers they face in trying to uncover the reason why ferals are working together for the first time in their history to kill off members of the paranormal community.
Book 1- My Commander- ClickHere
Book 2- My Protector- Click Here
Book 3- My Healer- Click Here
Reader Feedback- ClickHere
World of Bewitched and Bewildered- ClickHere