Kate sat down and listened to Janet talk.
“You saw them, didn’t you?”
“I accidentally turned on the monitors in the den when I was trying to change the channel of the set. Richard and Max were in the garage.”
“Then the moon came up.”
“I don’t understand, Janet. What are they?”
Janet blinked a few times and then said, “Werewolves.”
Of course, the full moon. Kate shook her head, “How?”
“I think Richard should explain this.”
“Well Richard isn’t here, so you get the honor.” Kate wasn’t letting her off the hook.
“I don’t think...”
“No!” Kate raised her voice to a yell. “You’ve all been lying to me for a month. You knew all along the man I’m sleeping with turns into an animal and you said nothing. You owe me.”
“I know this is hard to understand, but I couldn’t come out and tell you about my husband being a werewolf. You wouldn’t have believed me.”
“Fair enough. But there’s not a reason to stay silent now.”
Janet took a deep breath. “I knew Richard would turn into a wolf, like Max has for years. But the thing you need to understand is Richard did this for you.”
“I don’t understand.” For me?
Janet sat on the bed next to her and lowered her voice. “Being a werewolf, turning every month, is something Richard and Max have chosen to do. Max has been after Richard to accept the change for years. Richard always said no. After Richard met you, he decided to change. As werewolves, they have certain abilities that you and I don’t. They can see things, hear things…smell things that we can’t. Richard was determined to find the man who shot you.”
“Are you saying that all of the members of Richard’s family are werewolves?”
“Not all of them. Those that are live their lives protecting innocent people from being turned into evil. Not every werewolf out there is good. Like the man who died tonight. If you were bitten by him, every month you would have turned into a creature like him.”
“And if I were bitten by Max or Richard?”
“You would turn, like them, but you wouldn’t be evil.”
Kate stood, walked to the window, and peered out into the night. This is crazy. “Werewolves don’t exist.”
“It takes some time to get used to. I didn’t believe it at first either,” Janet sighed. “The bottom line, however, is Richard never chose this life until you came into his.”
“I don’t like the responsibility of knowing he made the change for me. I didn’t ask him to.”
“I know you didn’t.”
“Can he change back?”
“No.”
Kate squeezed her eyes shut, shook her head. “When did he do this?”
“The night after he met you.”
“Why do something so drastic for someone you hardly know?”
Janet walked over to where she stood and met her eyes. “Max knew we were meant for each other almost immediately. He calls me his soul mate.”
“Soul mate? I…we…”
“It’s a lot to take in.”
“Oh, Janet. I don’t know what to do.”
“Then do nothing, for now.”
She needed to think. The question was could she do so while staying under Richard’s nose?
Chapter Sixteen
I have to go to her. Richard panted, and adrenaline surged in his veins.
We wait.
Did you see her face? She knows. She knows it was me, us. Shit. How? How does she know, Max? Richard paced the wooded area behind Max’s estate.
Cops swarmed the yard. Flashes of cameras lit up the night sky.
Already the moon was low on the horizon. The second change of the night was coming.
Wait. It won’t be long. You can talk to her then.
Richard knew his brother was right. Still, he hated the waiting. By morning, she could be gone.
****
Richard and Max returned after sunrise. Devon sat with a cup of coffee and a newspaper at the kitchen counter. The rest of the officers had left.
Richard marched over to Devon, wrapped his fingers around his throat, and pinned him to the wall. “You used Kate as a decoy, didn’t you?”
“Settle down. She didn’t get hurt.”
“You bastard.” Richard pulled his arm back, fist clenched. Max stopped him before he made contact.
“She could have been killed, or worse,” he yelled.
“That didn’t happen.”
“No thanks to you!”
Around the corner, Kate and Janet ran into the room. Kate’s eyes held dark circles, evidence that she hadn’t slept.
“Everything okay?” Janet asked.
“Fine.” Devon shrugged away from Richard, putting distance between them.
“Good, we’ve had enough violence for one night.” Janet moved to her husband’s side and kissed him.
Richard watched Kate. Her gaze never left him.
“Did he call you?” Richard shrugged toward Devon.
“I called him.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Kate’s eyes narrowed to thin slits. “A bit hypocritical of you, don’t you think? Seems you’re the one with all the secrets. Being bait to catch a werewolf is minor compared to being one yourself.”
“I think it’s time I go.” Devon moved for the door.
“I’m not done with you,” Richard said, his eyes never leaving Kate’s.
“Yeah, yeah...you can kick the shit out of me later. By the way...nice work last night. The bastard dead on the lawn turned five women before he went down. He wanted his own harem according to his accomplice. Kate would have been number six.”
Richard saw her shiver with the information.
“It’s a good thing we got him when we did,” Max added. “Come on, I’ll walk you out.”
They left with Janet on their heels.
“We need to talk.” Richard gestured toward the back door. He half-expected Kate to walk in the opposite direction, when she led the way outside a small measure of relief washed over him.
The feeling didn’t last.
“I’ve packed my bags,” she told him as soon as they sat.
“Kate...”
She held up her hand. “Let me finish. I packed my bags before I found out...before I knew what you are.”
His heart slammed into his chest. He smelled his own fear. “I see.”
“I don’t think you do. I thought it would be best for Joey and me to break away. His attachment to you grows daily, and I didn’t want you to feel pressured by him. When you asked me to move in with you, I wanted to throw myself at you and scream yes. If it wasn’t for Joey, I would have.”
A sliver of hope started to build. He knocked it back and prepared for the worse.
She’s setting me up for a fall.
Kate caught his eyes and cast a slight grin. “I thought if we left, you’d be able to know for certain if you wanted us in your life. Not only to protect us from the man who stalked me, but for the right reasons.”
“What reasons?”
“Love.” She swallowed hard. “You see, I’ve fallen in love with you. But I promised myself a long time ago, not to fall into the trap of one way love ever again. Last night I realized I never really loved Joey’s dad. I may have been torn up when he left me, but I think now it was more about being alone and pregnant than anything deeper. My feelings for you are so much stronger.”
The pounding of Richard’s heart accelerated.
Kate went on. “Then last night happened. I couldn’t believe what I saw. Even after it was all over and Janet explained to me what you are, I couldn’t believe it. You scared the hell out of me, Richard. I wanted to run away as fast as my legs could carry me.”
“I wanted to tell you,” he took her hand in his. She didn’t pull away.
“I wouldn’t have believed you. I know that now. Janet said you made the
change for me. I need to know why? Why did you do it?”
He pulled her hand up to his lips, brushed them with a kiss, and nestled them against his cheek. “Because I love you.”
Her pulse quickened.
“I knew from the beginning you were the one for me. I’d never considered the change before. My family tried to talk me into it for years, but until you, I never saw the need. I love you, Kate.”
She opened her mouth to talk. It was his turn to cut her off.
“I’m not done. I know you have a responsibility to your son. Asking you to move in with me was a cop out. I know that now. I want you to marry me, Katie.”
Her eyes grew wide with surprise. Her mouth fell open.
“You need to know that I’m a werewolf. I will always be a werewolf.”
“I know.” A faint smile met her lips.
“I’m not the best catch in town. I’m going to turn furry three nights a month and possibly bring fleas into the house. But I promise not to pee on the rug, or hump your leg.”
Kate let out a giggle. Her bottom lip curled into her mouth, tears started to well.
“Richard.”
“Oh, and I won’t lick myself. Although I have to tell you…the urge was there last night,” he laughed.
“Oh, Richard.” She burst out laughing.
“Say yes. Marry me. I’ve already given you my heart. I changed for you, only for you.”
Kate paused, and for a brief moment, he thought she was going to deny him. Then her head started to bob up and down.
“Yes, Oh, God. Yes! I’ll marry you.”
Relief burst in one rush of air from his lungs before he pulled her into his arms and captured her lips. She melted against him. And for the second time in his life, he knew he’d made the right decision. She was his mate. For life.
She pulled her lips away from his and asked, “What are we going to tell Joey?”
“The truth. Kids understand these things much more than adults. I knew about werewolves since I was in diapers. I got a kick out of people thinking they didn’t exist. Joey will understand.”
Kate leaned in and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Did you really want to...” she glanced down between his legs. “You know?”
He grinned. “You know how they say; why do dogs lick their balls?”
“Because they can,” she finished for him. “Well, let’s see if I can make sure you never have to.”
His eyebrows lifted, “Sounds like a plan to me.”
“I love you, Richard.”
He smiled, nuzzled her neck, and pulled her to her feet. “Come on, we have to wake up Joey and give him the good news.”
EPILOGUE
Perfect. Everything was absolutely perfect. White rose flower arrangements adorned every table along with glimmering opaque candles. The band played and everyone danced.
Joey made her proud, standing between her and Richard while they said their vows. His little eyes twinkled with unshed tears when the minister pronounced them husband and wife. He even shouted out, “And Daddy and Mommy, right?” The church burst into laughter.
After sealing their vows with a kiss that reached the very depths of her soul, Richard picked Joey up in one arm and walked them both down the aisle.
As they walked past the pews holding those that watched, Kate saw her father and mother openly weeping.
It had been three months since Kate decided to rekindle her relationship with her parents.
It seems with forgiveness comes absolution. Their heated talks in the beginning gave way to screaming over each other to be heard. In the end, they all had their say and resolved their differences.
Now, along with grandparents, Joey had a father. And for the first time in her son’s life he had an Aunt, Uncle and a baby cousin. The Ritter family was huge and all of them accepted Joey and Kate with open arms and open hearts.
“Hey.” Richard returned with a bottle of unopened champagne and two clean glasses for the limo ride to the airport. “Why such a serious face?”
Kate turned to her husband and fanned her hands around his waist, pulling him close. “I was just thinking about how happy I am.”
“Good,” he said with a sigh. “I wouldn’t want you having second thoughts now.”
“Never.” Kate pointed to Joey who was dancing on his grandmother’s toes. “I can’t believe how much he’s changed since you’ve come into his life.”
He moved closer to her ear and whispered, “Does he still ask you if I’ll bite him for Halloween?”
“Daily. He thinks his costume would take first prize.”
“I hate to tell him that there isn’t a full moon this year on Halloween. He’s going to be disappointed trick or treating with just plain old me and you.”
Kate stared up into his eyes, her smile radiating off his. “He will never be disappointed in you. You, Richard Ritter are his number one hero.”
“I may be his hero now, Kate Ritter. But you were his first.”
Just then Joey scrambled up to them, his tie loosened, his hair ruffled. “Are you going now?”
“Yep, it’s that time,” Richard told him.
“You be good for grandma and grandpa, okay?”
He shuffled his feet and wiggled his nose. “I will. They are taking me to Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm and Magic Mountain. I’ll have more fun then you will on a stuffy old island.”
Kate bent down to give her son a kiss. “Are you happy?”
He smiled, nodded, and whispered in her ear. “I only want one more thing.”
“He’s not going to bite you.”
“I know, that isn’t it.”
“What then?”
He put his little hand up to her ear, “A baby brother.”
Richard leaned down and put his arm around him. “I’ll see what I can do about that.”
“Wow, you could hear me? Mom, you gotta let him nibble on me. Think of all fun I could have.” Kate laughed, whipped away a little tear, and hugged her men. “Oh, boy do I have my hands full.”
“Just wait until I get my baby brother. Then we’ll both drive you crazy!”
Other Books by CATHERINE BYBEE
Time Travel Romance
Binding Vows
Silent Vows
Redeeming Vows
Highland Shifter
Contemporary Romance
Wife by Wednesday
Married by Monday (coming 2012)
Paranormal Romance
Before the Moon Rises
Embracing the Wolf
Soul Mate
Possessive
About the Author
New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Catherine Bybee has been addicted to romance since her teens. After spending a decade of her life working as an RN in urban emergency rooms, Catherine is now dedicated to writing happily-ever-afters for the world to love. Catherine is married and raising two sons in Southern California.
She loves hearing from her readers and encourages everyone who enjoys her books to follow/friend or even annoy her on:
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Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2905789.Catherine_Bybee
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Visit Catherine at www.catherinebybee.com
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