Cassie watched them with a faint smile lifting her lips. She stood with Summer and Kian, her hand resting on her large protruding belly. She smiled but didn't speak. Unfortunately, Cassie had remained closed off, especially about her time in the labs, but that was to be expected. She had lost her mate, suffered through God knows how many experiments, and feared for her baby. Her trust wouldn't come easy.
Although, the doctors had reservations about Cassie's pregnancy, they decided to wait until the child was born to do any further investigation. The human had been through enough. Her and her unborn child deserved to have some peace.
Jane sat beside Levi. When Levi pegged Grayson in the ass with a snowball, she laughed aloud before hiding her face behind Levi's biceps. The tiger maintained his composure at the assault, but Winter didn't miss the glare he tossed Levi, or the way his gaze suddenly locked on Jane. Nope, the tiger didn't like how close she was to the Peyton tracker.
Well, too bad. You snooze, you lose, big guy.
She shouldn't be the one to talk. She was about to let her mate climb in a car and drive right out of her life. What was she supposed to do? How was it going to work when her job was here and his was way up in Pennsylvania? She wouldn't do a long-distance relationship. For mates, once the bond is fully formed, to separate like that would be torture.
"He's leaving today. Isn't he?"
Winter turned to find Magnus leaning against the column behind her.
Winter nodded. "Yeah, he's got to get back. He's been gone long enough." Not wanting to talk about Tristan, she changed the subject. "How did the interrogation go with Maxwell's minion? Any news on the Goddesses and their brother?"
"Apparently, the information he provided was minimal. They are being held in a lab, but the whereabouts are secret. After the raid of Maxwell's businesses, some other vampires were rounded up and questioned. They gave us nothing new."
"What about Lina? Did she offer anything?"
Winter hated the fact that Lina's family managed to buy her way out of her death sentence. Instead, Lina was exiled from her pack and forced to serve five years at a shifter prison.
"She claims to be unaware of the deities location."
Winter groaned. "And Lex?"
"He was taken in by the authorities, questioned, and then released. There's no evidence linking him to the bombing or the labs. All his business connections to Maxwell are legit. He's cooperated with us so far and given us any information he could get from Maxwell on the labs."
Magnus stepped closer. "There was an emergency meeting of the council heads this morning. The fact they lied about the deities' whereabouts is disturbing and the other members are calling for their removal and new heads appointed. Their hindrance might have caused the end of our Goddesses and God."
"They should lose their positions. If they would’ve said they disappeared, we might have been able to find them quickly. Now, they could be anywhere."
"What about you? Haven't you been here long enough?" Magnus lifted his gaze and smiled. "The wolf won't let you go, Winter. You know that as well as I do."
"Hey," said a deep voice from behind her.
Magnus glanced over her shoulder. "I'll let you talk." He descended the steps of Blue Manor and headed toward the laughing children.
Winter took a deep breath. She wasn't going to cry. If she started, she might not be able to stop. "You all packed?” she asked.
"There wasn't much to pack."
She glanced at the ground. The thought of watching him drive away felt heavy on her shoulders.
"I suppose you're right."
"How about you, Win? Are you ready to go?"
Her eyes shot up. "What are you talking about? I'm not—"
He smiled. "I talked to Magnus."
"About what?" She crossed her arms over her chest. He was up to something. The look in his eyes was way too wolfish.
"Your transfer. I happen to have an opening in my guard unit."
She bit back a smile. She could barely slow her pulse. "You don't say. And what makes you think I'd want a transfer?"
He stepped closer. "I know, because your heart's been racing since I told you." He rested his palm on her cheek.
Her eyes slid closed at the feel of his touch. "My heart's been racing since you arrived."
He chuckled. "True enough. But the subtle change in your scent tells me you like the idea." His thumb caressed her cheek. "I'm not letting you go, Winter. Whether I stay here or you come back with me, I'm not leaving your side."
She was speechless.
"Grayson said we can always use a highly trained guard, someone that can whip our pack into shape and work protection detail for yours truly. When I mentioned it to Magnus, he recommended you. He hates to lose you, but he feels your skills and talent would be better utilized in a community that has a higher shifter population. It's a certified position as a top guard working with Grayson. Believe me, he won't go easy on you just because you’re the alpha’s mate."
"I wouldn't expect him to. I wouldn't go easy on him either." She grinned. "But, I'm not the alpha’s mate. I don't believe that was confirmed."
"Not yet, but that can be easily rectified."
"You do know when I'm needed, I'm going out there. I won't work a desk job."
"I wouldn't expect anything less." He leaned his forehead against hers. "I won't force you, but just so you know, I can't live without you. I tried for ten years and barely survived. I would love nothing more than to have you by my side every day for the rest of my life. Whatever I have to do to make that happen, I'll do."
"Tristan—"
He yanked her against him and gazed down into her eyes. "Winter Leery, we are mates. Made for each other and no one else. Please do me the honor of accepting my promising as per witch law and mate me in the way of shifters. Walk beside me all the days of my life and let me cherish you and all you are. I don't promise to be easy, but I promise to be true."
Tears filled her eyes. How the hell can someone say no to this man? She nodded. "Tristan MacGlenn, mate me as per shifter law. Walk beside me all the days of my life and let me cherish you and all you are. I definitely won't be easy, but I'll always be true."
He took her lips, deepening the embrace with a growl before whispering in her ear, "My wolf wants to claim you now. He'll wait no longer."
She smiled. "Then by all means. Let's not keep the beast waiting a minute longer."
"Mate, you undo me like no other."
As everyone was busy playing and laughing in the snow, Tristan hurried her into the house and up the stairs. When they reached the top, he swept her into his arms and carried her to the first empty bedroom they could find, while he nuzzled her throat over the spot where he would soon sink his canines and claim her forever as his.
He slammed the door behind him with her still in his arms. Her back hit the mattress, his weight followed. He lifted up, hovering over her. In seconds, her clothes were gone, his followed. She chuckled, biting her lip. Magic was a wonderful thing.
He slid his hard shaft up and down between her already weeping folds.
"You are so wet."
"I'm always wet for you."
"I can't be gentle. My wolf wants to take."
"Let's give him what he wants." She reached between them, positioned his cock at her entrance, grasped his ass, and lifted her hips as she pulled him down hard.
"Fuck, yeah."
"Oh Goddess."
He took control, thrusting in tune with the pump of her hips. Harder and faster. This was going to be quick. She already felt the tingle and tighten of her impending release. His hands speared through her hair. Their eyes meet.
"I love you like no other." His gaze glowed bright amber.
"And I love you. Make me yours."
"Turn over." His voice deepened, laced with his wolf.
He pulled out of her pussy, waiting patiently as she got on her hands and knees.
A breath later, he was inside her deep, touching the b
ase of her womb.
"Mine," he growled the word.
"Yours," she responded on a gasp. She tilted her head to the side, exposing her throat.
He struck, sinking his teeth into the curve between her neck and shoulder. His fangs buried deep. Pain gave way to incredible pleasure. He pumped into her faster. Magic exploded in her. His. Hers. Their power merged, snapping into place as it was meant to be. She heard his thoughts. Felt the love and passion he carried within him for her. Never again would she question his loyalty or his love. There was no one in his heart but her, just as her soul welcomed him and him alone.
They were one.
"Tristan," she cried as her orgasm hit. Her spine arched. Moments later he followed her into pure bliss. His pleasure echoed in her thoughts, drawing out another burst of pleasure from her.
He released her shoulder. With a few gentle flicks of his tongue, he sealed the wound.
She would now carry his mark on her skin and her soul forever.
I love you. His voice drifted in her mind like a warm comforting breeze.
She smiled. I finally have the wolf's heart. She snuggled deeper into his arms.
"You've always had my heart, Win." Always.
*THE END*
Thank you for reading my book. If you enjoyed it, won't you please take a moment to leave me a review? It's the best way to make my day.
~K. D. Friedrich
About the author
K. D. Friedrich is a writer of Contemporary and Paranormal Romance. She's a lifelong daydreamer, an overprotective mother (her daughter's words), and an obsessed reader of everything romance. Most days, you can find her hard at work, creating intricate worlds and compelling characters, hot alpha heroes being her favorite. Her novel, Soul Tie Seduction, placed second in the 2013 Golden Palm contest for Paranormal Romance and was a finalist in the 2016 Golden Quill for Paranormal Romance.
CONNECT WITH K. D. FRIEDRICH:
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Other books by this author
Contemporary Romance
The Heart Falls Heroes series
Cross My Heart Book 1
Sands of Time Book 2
Morrison on My Mind Book 3
Paranormal Romance
A Wicked Series
Passion of a Witch Book 1
The Jettison Brotherhood
Soul Tie Seduction Book 1
Acknowledgments
As always, I'd like to thank my daughter. She's all the inspiration I need to keep going and never stop writing. Thank you to my sweetie, Phil. The man who has given me my real-life romance. Thanks to my family for their support and encouragement. I'd also like to thank all the readers out there for their support and for giving my books a chance. I couldn't do this without you.
And last, but never least, I'm sending a special thanks to my dad all the way to heaven.
Finished another one, Dad.
Heart of a Wolf: A Wicked Series - Book 2 Page 29