by M. Limoges
Taming His Mate
Title Page
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Taming His Mate
Smashwords Edition
Copyright © 2015 by M. Limoges
ISBN: 978-1-61333-716-5
Cover art by Fiona Jayde
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work, in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.
Published by Decadent Publishing Company, LLC
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Black Hills Wolves Stories
Wolf’s Return
What a Wolf Wants
Black Hills Desperado
Wolf’s Song
Claiming His Mate
When Hell Freezes
Portrait of a Lone Wolf
Coming Soon
Seducing the Schoolmarm
Alpha in Disguise
A Wolf’s Promise
Reluctant Mate
Diamond Moon
Tempting the Wolf
Also by M. Limoges
Claiming His Mate
Taming His Mate
Black Hills Wolves
By
M. Limoges
Chapter One
A high-pitched howl reached through the barrier of sleep and tugged Kate Matthews into semi-consciousness. Rolling onto her side, she groaned and smothered her head beneath her pillow. Another bay penetrated the memory-foam fabric jammed over her ears. Throwing the cushion on the other side of the bed, she flopped on her back and stared at the ceiling fan as yet another howl shattered the last vestige of sleep.
Damn it, Stephen.
Kate flung the covers off her legs, jumped from the bed, and stomped across the chilly hardwood floor to her bedroom window. Squinting in the darkness, she spotted one of her tennis shoes beside her foot and grabbed it. Armed, she jerked the window open and hurled her makeshift missile at the large, gray wolf loitering on her back lawn. The beast swerved clear of the canvas bomb at the last second.
An iridescent pop of light gave way to the human form of Stephen Dorsett. As moonlight illuminated his nude body, he gazed up at her, wearing an amused expression that pissed her off and turned her on at the same time.
“And a good morning to you, Sunshine.” His voice oozed with syrupy sweetness, infuriating her more.
“You’re really starting to annoy me with this shit.” She pushed the words past her gritted teeth.
“Aw, did I wake you up?”
She snatched up a second shoe and chucked it at him, this time smacking his bare shoulder.
The man just laughed and shook his head. “Come for a run with me, Kate.”
“Are you out of your feeble mind? Go away.”
“Well then, come out and talk to me a minute before I head home. Or you could just invite me in.”
“Jesus Christ, Stephen.” She glanced over her shoulder at the digital clock on her bedside table. “It’s four in the morning!”
“Please.” He tilted his head to the side, and his bright eyes glinted. “Come on, Kate. Just for a minute.”
Hell, she’d never get rid of him if she didn’t. The idiot would stand outside and howl himself hoarse.
As if he’d plucked the thoughts from her head, a lazy smile curled his lips. “You know I won’t leave until you do.”
Kate scowled a moment before slamming the window shut. Stumbling around her room in the dark, she grabbed a sweatshirt and pair of pajama pants that had seen better days and threw them on over her nightshirt. She trudged down the stairs and through the house then out the backdoor, the screen banging closed behind her.
And there he was. The man she’d secretly been in love with since she was a girl.
She leaned her hip against the wood railing and allowed her gaze to sweep over him. Clad in a pair of jeans he’d gotten from God only knew where, he sprawled on the swing at the other end of her porch. She tried in vain not to notice the sinewy contours of his chest or the golden trail of hair running the length of his chest and disappearing into his pants. Only he could manage to pull off the seriously hot look at four in the morning.
The smug bastard.
Suddenly aware of her old, ratty sweatshirt and worn pajama pants, Kate straightened and tugged at the bottom of her shirt, pulling it over her hips.
Stephen patted the opposite side of the swing. “There’s plenty of room for you. I won’t bite.” He winked. “Unless you want me to, Sunshine.”
“Are you always such a pervert?” She shot him a frosty glower and, against her better judgment, crossed the porch to sit beside him. “No wonder you can’t get laid.”
“I’m holding out for one woman in particular.” He stretched his arm across the slat of wood behind her neck. “She keeps playing hard-to-get, though.”
All it took was one innocent touch or a few sweet words and the heart she’d given him long ago fluttered erratically in her chest. She inhaled the cool, early morning air and forced herself to maintain focus, which was difficult when his arm brushed the nape of her neck as the swing rocked back and forth.
Of course, it never took reality long to intrude and remind her that a life with him was out of the question. As long as she was unable to shift, she had nothing to offer.
Thankfully, no one in the Black Hills Pack suspected her secret. Or if they did, they’d never confronted her with it. How she’d managed to avoid the pack’s notice this long still astounded her, but it was only a matter of time before someone learned of her affliction.
As a young girl, while under Magnum’s rule, she recalled the pack’s treatment of one shifter who suffered the same infirmity. The poor man had been regarded as nothing more than a pariah, an outcast among his own people, and driven out of town with the threat of death. It hadn’t taken the man long to disappear. If that’s truly what happened to him….
Inwardly, she cringed. With no way of knowing if the pack’s current Alpha, Andrew Tao, would react the same as his father, Kate was safer keeping her secret locked away from the light of day. And that also meant she could never form a mate bond with any shifter. Much less the man she loved.
She wouldn’t allow Stephen to suffer for her failings. No matter how much she longed to give into her feelings for him, it just wasn’t possible. Not to mention she couldn’t bear to witness his scorn or disgust when he learned the truth about her.
Resigned, she shifted away from him and the temptation he presented. “Well, if she’s told you to get lost, you might as well leave her alone. I don’t suspect she’ll change her mind. You’re better off looking elsewhere.”
Before she could rise from the swing, Stephen looped his arm around her neck and pulled her against him. Planting her hands on his chest, the touch of his bare skin seared her palms, lighting every fuse in her body. She tried to push away, but he dragged her closer and refused to let go.
“Steph—�
�
His mouth cut her off.
***
Stephen slid his tongue past Kate’s parted lips and drank in the wild, untamed spice of her. Jesus Christ, he’d waited ages for this one small sample of her sweetness, and damn it had been worth the wait. But he wanted more.
Desire rushed through his blood, and the urge to seize and conquer his mate eclipsed all else. When he moved to lift her onto his lap, she jerked her mouth free and cast her head to the side. Holding her pressed to his body, the rise and fall of her chest matched his own.
“We can’t do this, Stephen.”
As usual, she fought the attraction.
“Why?” He nipped at her earlobe. For once, just give me a damn reason and stop hiding.
Kate shoved at his chest, and he dropped his arm, breaking the pulse of energy between them. She had to feel the connection they shared. Hell, it practically raised every damn hair on his body when he touched her. She jumped to her feet and moved to the porch’s railing. As she wrapped her arms around her middle and stared out into the forest behind her home, it struck him how vulnerable she appeared.
Once he’d recognized her as his mate when she’d turned eighteen, he’d given her plenty of time to grow into adulthood, experience life on her own, and hadn’t forced her into anything she’d regret. He’d always ensured she was safe, protected, and had everything she needed, whether she asked for it or not.
For fuck’s sake, he howled at her damn bedroom window at the most ungodly hours of night like some lovelorn pup just to get her attention. Out of respect, he hadn’t messed around with other females in the pack. He’d been a paragon of patience for years waiting for her to accept their bond.
Perhaps he was finally wearing her down?
Stephen nearly snorted aloud. Yeah the fuck right. The damn woman was impervious to his charms.
He rose to his feet and crossed the wooden deck until he stood behind her. “Give me a reason, Kate. Just tell me why.”
“We just can’t. Accept it, and stop trying to force me into something I don’t want.”
Oh, his little Kate wanted him. He wasn’t mistaken about that. He scented her arousal whenever he found an excuse to touch her. Seen the longing she attempted to disguise when he smiled at her. She was a liar if she said otherwise.
He growled. “What do you mean something you don’t want?”
Her spine straightened, and she scowled over her shoulder at him. “I don’t want you.”
“Bull-fucking-shit.” The blatant dishonesty just pissed him the hell off. “Yes, you do. You can deny what’s between us as much as you want, but the fact still remains, you’re my mate.”
Kate shook her head. “No, I’m not.”
Stephen grabbed her shoulders and spun her to face him. “I know you feel the bond between us. You think this shit happens to everyone? What you and I have is rare, Kate. Why can’t you see that? How long do I have to wait until you accept our fate?”
She ducked her head, but not before he saw a pained expression pass over her delicate features. “I’ve never asked you to wait for me. If you’ll remember, I’ve repeatedly asked you to leave me alone. We’re not meant to be. I’m not the mate you want. Nor will I ever be.”
His grip tightened, and he fought the urge to shake her into submission. Christ, she infuriated the shit out of him. “I don’t need you to be someone else. I just need you to be you. The exact way you are. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
Kate slumped and dropped her hands to her sides. “It won’t work, Stephen. You’re wasting your time with me.”
Brushing off his hold, she faced the forest once more and grasped the wood railing in front of her.
Still, she refused to give him a reason.
An unrelenting determination goaded him to push for more. He crowded into her personal space, plastering his bare chest to her stiff back. He dipped his head to the curve of her neck, the same delectable neck he’d dreamt of marking for years, and inhaled her scent. The sweet tinge of honeysuckle wrapped around his senses, driving the Wolf inside him nuts. She attempted to move away, but he slid an arm around her stomach, holding her in place. He ran his lips along the column of her throat while his body absorbed the tremble passing through her frame.
“Why, Kate? Why do you keep denying me?”
For one flicker of a moment, he thought she might give him a straight answer. Instead, she choked out, “It’s not meant to be. Please, leave me alone. I’m begging you.”
Fuck, she always pushed him away. Always kept to herself. Never trusted him enough to speak of her reservations. No matter how hard he tried to convince her she could open up to him, she ran.
Always.
Did she have any clue how much her denials affected him? His heart could only withstand so many jabs before it shattered into pieces, and she didn’t seem to care one damn bit.
“Fine. I’m going home.” Stephen heaved a frustrated sigh and dropped his arm. For once, he was too tired to chase her. He’d just tell her what he’d come to say and be on his way.
He stalked to the edge of the porch and paused on the last step. “Some hunters from Collins have been snooping around after Marston. I found traces of a human trail near the pack’s territory earlier tonight when I ran the borders. Be sure to keep your doors locked and don’t venture into the woods alone until this shit is sorted out.”
With his warning delivered, he stepped off the porch onto the dewy grass, the dampness tickling between his toes. Her faint sniffle reached his ears, and he forced himself not to race back to comfort her. Instead, he worked on steadying his thrumming pulse. Pushing past low-hanging branches, he slipped into a dense copse of trees behind her house and halted long enough to hear the slam of her screen door. Tilting his head to the side, he waited for the flip of her backdoor lock. At the low click, he continued on his way home to another morning spent in his lonely bed without his mate.
Chapter Two
Kate swallowed a mouthful of beer and attempted to drown out the noise around her. As the only hole-in-the-wall bar in the shifter town of Los Lobos, the Den was packed to capacity tonight. And not a single person in the overcrowded bar garnered a speck of her interest. That is, no one except the man across the bar standing beside a pool table.
She peeked over her shoulder, and her grip tightened on her beer bottle. She gritted her teeth as Tanya, the perky, blonde skank of the pack, smiled and clung to Stephen’s arm while he spoke to his friend, Wes. Apparently, it hadn’t taken Stephen too long to move on to his next conquest. Not once had he bothered to look in her direction since she’d entered the bar an hour before.
What did she expect? She’d all but begged him on bended knee to leave her alone.
Of course, she hadn’t anticipated he would jump to the next piece of ass so soon, or that seeing him with another woman would sting as much.
But it did, damn it.
Irritated with him, herself, and the whole damn world, she rolled her eyes, faced the bar, and jumped when she noticed Gee standing in front of her. For a big man, he damn sure moved with stealth. He stared down at her, a frown tugging at his mouth. His penetrating gaze speared her where she sat.
“When are you going to do yourself a favor and just accept the man?”
Kate’s mouth dropped open. The large, Native American Bear shifter was friendly enough, but he wasn’t one to typically initiate conversation.
She picked at the label on her beer. “It would never work, Gee.”
He threw his bar towel over his shoulder and rested his tanned forearms against the edge of the bar. “Because you’re too stubborn.”
“I have my reasons.”
“Your reasons are stupid.” He scowled. “You’re not the first it’s happened to, you know.”
Her head snapped up, and she searched his dark brown eyes. No one knew of her inability to shift. Not even her brother, Jace. She’d gone out of her way to hide it from her family and pack since puberty when she’d lear
ned of her affliction. For years, she’d used excuse after excuse to not shift in the company of her pack. Most, her family included, chalked it up to her being a bit out of the ordinary and desiring privacy. Thankfully, they’d all let her be and never questioned her weirdness. But it seemed Gee had guessed her secret.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She shook her head. “How about another beer?”
“It’s not as uncommon as you think. Many before you have suffered the same, and oftentimes there is a solution.”
“And when there isn’t one?”
He grunted, straightened to his full height, and snatched the towel from his shoulder. “Look, I understand your reservations, but those days are long gone, little girl. Drew wouldn’t allow that kind of intolerance in his pack. Besides, I have a feeling you can. Have you spoken to Stephen about it?”
“Stephen? Why the crap would I tell him? It’s not any of his business.” She would’ve snorted if she wasn’t in such a foul mood.
“Don’t be such an ass. The man would do anything to help you.” Gee plunked a fresh beer in front of her and then lumbered off to serve other patrons crowded at the bar as if the two of them hadn’t spoken at all.
The somber, loner bear might have been her friend, but damn it if Kate didn’t want to punch him in the face for the pep talk.
She’d tried any and everything under the sun to shift, but nothing had worked. As far as she knew, her parents and brother had never experienced any complications shifting. Hell, if she and Jace didn’t look alike, she’d wonder if she hadn’t been abandoned on their parents’ doorstep in a basket.
It had been a cold slap of reality the day she’d accepted she would never shift. And it was definitely something she didn’t plan on burdening Stephen with.