by V. A. Dold
LUCAS
V.A. Dold
The Five Shifter Rules
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.
Respect all nonhumans.
Copyright 2015 by V.A. Dold
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without written permission from the author–except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine, newspaper, or on the web. For information, please contact the author via email at [email protected].
This novel is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events; to real people, living or dead; or to real locales are intended only to give the fiction a sense of reality and authenticity. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and their resemblance, if any, to real–life counterparts is entirely coincidental.
ISBN–13: 978-1943896004
Cover Design by
Christa Reed Photography
This is Dedicated
To all of my readers and fans of the Le Beau Series & the New K.I.S.S Series, I appreciate you more than I can say.
Thank you to my friends and fans who cheered me on and believed in me even more than I believed in myself.
...You all helped make this possible.
...Enjoy the adventure!
LUCAS
Le Beau Series
Book 5
K.I.S.S. Series
Book 1
By
V.A. Dold
Chapter 1
Emma Le Beau did a little happy dance. It was a rare moment in the home of the shifter, King and Queen; the house was quiet. Before anyone could knock on her door, she snatched the perfect opportunity for her daily meditation.
With great care, she placed a purple satin cloth on the altar she consecrated to the Goddess Luperica almost two centuries before. The goddess created the wolf shifters long ago when she blessed a village of humans with wolf souls. They became the first shifters. Since then she had only blessed a handful of humans who were not destined mates for a born shifter.
Carefully, she smoothed every crease and wrinkle until the altar cloth was perfect. Next she pulled two white candles from her prayer satchel and lit them.
Which crystals should I use today?
Gently, she touched each of her sacred stones until she decided on amethyst, citrine, and clear quartz. With the greatest reverence, Emma placed them in a triangle on her altar.
She closed her eyes, centered her mind, and quieted her thoughts. Then opened herself to her spirit guides, and to the goddess.
“Blessed be, my daughter,” Luperica greeted her in her soft, soothing voice.
“Blessed be, Mother. How may I be of service?”
“Two of my sons are about to meet their mates: Richie Majors, and your son, Lucas.”
Emma gasped, and then whispered wide-eyed, “Lucas?”
“There is a very special woman who waits for him in Texas. My daughter, Krystal, will be instrumental in bringing them together.”
“Is there anything you need me to do to help?”
“You must make sure Krystal leaves with Lucas when he moves. I have additional reasons for her move, but I will disclose them at a later date. Once they settle in Texas, I will speak with you again with detailed instructions to ensure Lucas meets Miss Kensie Brown.”
“Isaac and I will make sure his sister–in–law, Lucinda, doesn’t prevent her from leaving,” Emma promised. “This is very exciting! Two more of our men will finally meet their mates after such a long wait.”
The Goddess smiled lovingly. “I am very pleased, and I thank you for the assistance you have given me.”
“It is always my pleasure to be of service to you, Mother Goddess,” Emma said as she lowered her head in supplication.
“Take care, my daughter. Blessed be.”
“Thank you, Mother. Blessed be.”
She was about to burst with excitement. “Why does everyone have to be either asleep or away when I get news like this?”
She would just have to find something to distract herself until Isaac returned.
Cookies!
She could make a batch or three.
*****
She took the last sheet of baked chocolate chip cookies from the oven as she felt Isaac return.
Not more than five minutes later, Emma walked into his waiting arms. He held her tightly before he claimed her lips in a heart–stopping kiss.
“Have I told you today I adore you, and you are my world?” Isaac Le Beau murmured against his mate’s lips.
“No,” Emma panted as she caught her breath. “I don’t believe you have.”
“Well, you incredibly sexy woman, I do.” Isaac claimed her lips again until they were both dizzy from lack of oxygen.
“Keep that up and I’ll forget my news.”
With love overflowing his heart, he brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “What’s your news, cher?”
“The goddess came to me today and told me several things. I think you should get a scotch and sit with me in the great room.”
Isaac hesitated with a frown so deep it carved a crease in his brow. “It wasn’t bad news, was it?”
“No.” She shook her head and laughed. “She gave me wonderful news, but you may need to make a plan to handle Lucinda.”
“Good, I was worried for a second.”
With a scotch in hand, he got comfortable with his mate on the couch. “Snuggle up close and tell me what you know.”
“The goddess gave me another name.”
“Who?” Isaac asked, grinning at his mate’s excitement.
“I thought you would never ask. Lucas! Can you believe it? And Krystal will be instrumental in bringing them together. Our job is to make sure she moves to Texas with him.”
“We both know the only person who will try to stop her is her mother. I’ll handle Lucinda. If the situation requires it, I’ll simply talk privately with Charles and then force her hand with a royal decree demanding she allow Krystal to move to Texas with Lucas. In all reality, she has no actual say in her adult children’s lives, but she’s bullied them so terribly they’re afraid to go against her.”
Emma shook her head sadly. “I’ve seen her manipulation too many times, especially with the girls. And I’m concerned about her mental health.”
Absently Isaac stroked her gorgeous hair. “She hasn’t been right since Armand.”
“I know, but this has been a problem long enough and something needs to be done.”
“I’ll talk to Charles again, but to deny his mate anything is very hard for him.”
“I know, Mon amour, I know.”
Emma smiled and giggled like a schoolgirl to lighten the suddenly gloomy mood. “I love matchmaking our sons.”
“So do I,” Isaac laughed, “as long as we don’t get caught.” Isaac chuckled again “This is very exciting! Lucas.” Isaac shook his head. “That’s just wonderful.”
He hummed happily to himself and lounged with Emma in their great room as he sipped his scotch and reminisced. He and his mate successfully arranged for their sons to ‘accidentally’ meet their mates for over a year. So far, Cade, Simon, Stefan, and Thomas were all mated. In addition, they received a bonus when Thomas’s mate turned out to be Julia, his brother Charles’s daughter. And the icing on this mating game cake was they now had a grandchild due any day. Life was pretty dang good.
He was very proud of the way he had gotten Emma, his exotically beautiful combination of Romanian gypsy and voodoo priestess, to petition the wolf-goddess, Lupe
rca. Emma asked the goddess to disclose the names of their sons’ mates. Since the goddess first revealed Anna as Cade’s mate and where she would be on a specific day at a specific time, the names of additional mates were steadily revealed.
So far, all of their sons followed in his footsteps and mated beautiful, curvaceous women. After two centuries, his Emma’s exotic, sparkling dark eyes, and compact, soft, killer curves still left him breathless. Isaac couldn’t be more thrilled his sons were as blissfully happy as he was.
Chapter 2
For the past ten years, Lucas Le Beau searched for the perfect cattle ranch. Today, he would finally move in. To own a ranch and spend his days on the back of a horse was his dream since he was a child. He spent the past ten long years working ranches in South America and the United States to learn the business from the ground up. Today, his dream was finally a reality.
With the grace of his wolf, he leapt into the back of the moving van one last time to make sure they packed everything. A quick scan of the boxes and furnishings, and he was satisfied. Lucas rubbed his aching jaw. His face hurt from the permanent smile he’d sported all morning. He couldn’t help himself; he hadn’t been this excited in decades. For the final time, he closed the large doors of the van and locked them. Much of their furniture and household items would be professionally moved, but some things Lucas didn’t trust to the movers. Like his prized custom saddle and bridle. Those he wanted to handle personally.
His family was always ready to pitch in and today was no exception. Everyone gathered to load the van and say goodbye. The entire family was here to wish Lucas and Krystal well. His heart filled with love, as he looked at those dearest to him. They stood around the van, and assorted cars ready to caravan to the new ranch in the Texas hill country. Well, all except Krystal’s mother, Lucinda, who refused to come. But he didn’t like her much anyway. She was dead set against Krystal’s move and tried to force her to stay in Louisiana. In the end, Isaac, his father, who also happened to be Krystal’s uncle and the king of the shifters, stepped in. The act of his decree, which overruled Lucinda, earned him a bitter enemy in the family. Thankfully, Charles didn’t see things the way his wife did and he joined the group to kiss his baby girl goodbye and wish her well.
One by one, parents and siblings hugged them. They acted like he and Krystal were moving to the other side of the world instead of eight hours away. Finally, Emma, his mother stepped forward – she waited at the back of the crowd until all the farewells were said.
“Lucas, you’ve always taken care of Krystal like she was your sister. No doubt you’ll watch over her now. I packed lunch and snacks for both of you, as well as drinks in the cooler. Please drive safely and call me when you get there. I love you, son.”
Tears swam in his eyes. He missed his parents terribly during his long absences and the short time he had been home hadn’t been enough. His brothers still teased him about being a momma’s boy. He didn’t care; they were just too stupid and macho to show their feelings. “I will, Mama, and I love you, too. Oh, and don’t worry, I’ll keep Thomas and Julia out of trouble, as well.” With his thumb over his shoulder, he indicated the couple behind him, and then stage whispered, “You know how trouble tends to find them.”
Thomas chuckled as he whacked Lucas’s Stetson off his head. “I think I’ll be the one to keep you out of trouble with the local ranchers when you break their daughters’ hearts.”
Lucas was relieved when Thomas and Julia asked permission to come with him and stay for a week or two. After the attack at The Backwater, they needed a vacation and some alone time. They tried to hide their stress and guilt, but they both needed to come to terms with Thomas’s father and what the swampers had done.
The help Lucas and Krystal would receive unpacking and organizing the ranch was simply a bonus. A little change of scenery would do them both good and give them a chance to enjoy being newly mated without the day–to–day pressures of parents and Thomas’s security responsibilities.
One by one, the van and cars drove down the long driveway until the main house was out of sight. Lucas’s heart lurched one last time as the thread, which held him there was cut. Sure, he would visit often, but the Texas ranch was home now.
His cell phone pulled him from his reminiscing. “Hey, Krystal.”
“You all right, cuz? That was a pretty emotional farewell.”
“Yeah, I’m okay.” He chuckled. “Gotta cut Momma’s apron strings sometime.”
“At least her and your father will visit us right away to help out. I’m sure she will have the main house feeling like home in no time.”
“You got that right. My mother can’t help herself. She’ll hang pictures and place furniture faster than we can unload them.”
“I know you worked hard for this ranch and you’re ready for this move, but if you need to talk, you know my number.”
“Thanks, darlin'. I may take you up on that in about four hours when white line fever sets in. Drive safely and I’ll see you at the first stop.”
“You too, Lucas. Bye now.”
Krystal was Lucas’s favorite person in the world. Not only was she a strong psychic with the ability to read people, she was also empathic and incredibly sweet. Unlike him, she couldn’t wait to move away from her controlling mother. Lucinda was a real piece of work and shopped her daughters around to all the local and not so local natural born shifters. The entire affair was disgusting, and he, along with his father, put an end to her behavior. For the first time in her life, Krystal was truly free. He planned to keep her that way. At least until her mate came along.
*****
Krystal sat the last box of kitchen glassware on the granite countertop and stretched her back. That was the last of the breakables she moved herself.
Now, for food and household supplies. The drive to the ranch was a long one, but groceries weren’t going to buy themselves and they hadn’t hired kitchen staff yet.
“Julia, are you up to a trip to the store with me? Mother Hubbard’s cupboards are bare, and I think stocking the kitchen may take two carts.”
“Sure. I noticed Emma hid steaks and potato salad in the bottom of the cooler for dinner, but I won’t survive without coffee in the morning. Plus, I don’t even want to think about things like using the bathroom just to find there’s no toilet paper.”
“Let’s tell the guys where we’re going and head out. Lucas would never let me hear the end of it if I got lost in the dark on these country back roads and we had to call him to come find us.”
“I can hear him now,” Julia said, and rolled her eyes. “How did you manage to get lost? You’re wolves for cryin' out loud. Couldn’t you smell your way home?”
Krystal let out a belly laugh at Julia’s imitation of Lucas. She had him pegged, the voice and mannerisms were spot on.
*****
Lucas and Thomas waved as the women left, then continued to unload the truck. They wanted to go along, but someone needed to stay at the ranch. The movers were scheduled to arrive that afternoon, and they would need instructions on where to place the furniture.
Lucas lucked out, not only did he manage to find a large, usable cattle ranch for sale, but the dude ranch on the next spread was also for sale. So, he bought both and designed a website. Everyone was shocked when reservations began to pour in. Now, there was only four short weeks to prepare the main house and guest cabins before the first guests arrived at the dude ranch. Not to mention they needed to hire cowboys, buy horses, and stock the ranch with a herd of longhorns.
Julia’s eyes grew wide as she read over the grocery list Krystal handed her. The endless number of items filled an entire legal pad. “I’m amazed by how much stuff people normally have in their pantry and refrigerator that they take for granted. When you have to start from scratch, the undertaking is a bit mind-boggling.”
“And this list is only what I need for the main house. Tomorrow we’ll start a list of items we need for the guest cabins. We don’t even have
beds or dressers in them.”
Julia gaped open-mouthed at her sister. “It’s a dang good thing Thomas and I came along to help.”
Krystal shook her head and laughed. “You have no idea.”
They each grabbed a cart as they entered the local grocery. If they worked the store row by row and kept moving, they would be home in time to have cocktails with the guys and barbecue the steaks.
“Maybe we can grill the steaks over the fire pit out back and dedicate the ranch to the wolf goddess properly. I made sure to pack the items I’ll need for the dedication and Emma taught me the ritual,” Krystal thought aloud.
“That’s a great idea. Hopefully we’ll be back in time,” Julia agreed whole-heartedly.
Krystal was studying the yogurt options when two women parked a cart close to her and began to discuss cottage cheese.
She glanced at them, ready to introduce herself when she noticed the aura of the taller of the two. How interesting…the colors and pattern looked identical to Lucas’s aura. As she examined the fluctuating colors more closely, the woman’s spirit guide stepped forward.
“Kensie is your cousin, Lucas’s, soul mate. Please help her.”
Krystal gave the spirit guide a slight nod, careful no one saw her as she talked to an invisible entity. Few people knew her secret; not only could she see and read auras, but she could also see everyone’s spirit guides and speak to them.
Her breath caught in her throat. She could hardly believe her luck! Lucas’s mate stood not three feet from her.
She shook off the shock, and cleared her throat. “Hello, my name is Krystal. I just moved to town. Do you live around here?”