The Glittering World Anthology: Native American Romance Paranormal Fantasy

by Trinity Blacio

  “No. It’s you. I can carry you to a bed, if you’d be more comfortable.”

  “What time is it? I appreciate that, but your arm…?”

  “I shifted a while ago, and am completely better now. It helps with the process. Have you ever shifted?”

  “Shifted? I just learned I’m part wolf recently, remember? And, I may want to go to a hotel.”

  “I don’t blame you, but there’s going to be a lot of attention on you now, and it’s safest for you here. And… I want you here.”

  She didn’t need a necklace to feel the warmth between them. “Okay, I’d like that. How is Craig?”

  “Also here. My dad had the medics tranq him a bit. He was so angry. We thought he might hurt his father.”

  “He’s a healer. I could feel it.”

  “Well his dad was ranting about seeing you in a vision, and that Craig was supposed to be Alpha, not a Healer who wore himself out.”

  “What vision?”

  “It’s late.” Mark shifted under his blanket.

  “Am I going to die?” Renee sat up.

  “No, shh, sorry, not a bad vision, exactly, and who even knows if what he said was true.” Mark stood up and nudged her over on the couch, sitting behind her. He wrapped his arms around her.

  “Craig’s father placed you for adoption. You’re Craig’s twin. After your birth mother died, he didn’t want another healer in his life. None of us knew. The records show that a twin died during childbirth along with the mother.”

  “Craig’s my twin? My birth mother’s name was Dawn Tso on the certificate. Isn’t his name Alvarez? Oh wait – her maiden name, right?” Renee could barely hold on to one of the thoughts going through her head. “What was the vision? I can handle it.”

  Mark’s breath on her neck was causing her to shiver, in a not unpleasant way. “He said you and I were mated, and running the pack as Alphas. He wanted Craig to be Alpha.”

  “Doesn’t your dad have to die for us to be Alphas?”

  “Not in today’s world. He can retire. He’s been talking about it. But I notice you are not saying anything about the mating part.”

  She felt a soft kiss on the back of her neck.

  “How does it work?”

  “Work? The actual physical joining?”

  She could feel herself blushing. “I’m guessing sex, but is there anything else to it?”

  “Do you feel it already, Renee? I felt it when we kissed. I think I even felt it when I met you in the library. I just didn’t realize what it was. I didn’t know if I would ever find a mate. There is a very good chance that my father and I would have decided to make Craig Alpha if he found his mate first, so there would be descendants. But I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I took a picture of your ID when you went to the copier at the library.”

  “Kind of stalkeresque, don’t you think?” She leaned back against him, then thought of something. “Why did he shoot me? I mean, I was his daughter.”

  “My father thinks he never felt like he fit in. Everyone like Dawn, was always going to the house to get her help or her advice. He thought if he got rid of the girl, you, it wouldn’t happen again.” He kissed her temple. “It’s all okay now, sweetheart.”

  Renee loved hearing that word from him. “I have some loose ends to clear up at home.”

  Now he tensed. “Do you mean another guy?”

  “Not exactly. I ended things with my fiance three months ago and he keeps wanting to meet and get back together.”

  “Why did you end it?”

  “It felt wrong. I don’t know what else to say. He’s a nice guy, but he wasn’t for me.”

  “Who is right for you, Renee?”

  She turned in his arms and kissed him.

  Epilogue

  “This is familiar,” Renee said, walking into the visitor center and seeing Mark at the main desk.

  He strode up to her and pulled her into his arms for a long kiss.

  Her head swam a bit by the time he raised his lips, and she realized there were a few people around, smiling at them. “I didn’t get that nice welcome two months ago,” she whispered.

  He smiled. “There are a few people around for the ceremony tonight. I was hoping you would have come earlier this week.”

  “I know. I couldn’t leave them shorthanded. I agreed to stay through my shift Thursday.” Renee was ready for a fresh start and agreed to move here to explore the connection she had with Mark. “I have an interview at Crescent View Health Center next week.”

  “I’m sure they could use you. We are losing more of our human Navajo every day. We’ve tried donating shifter blood, but many of the humans’ bodies can’t accept it while they are fighting the flu. I am working on something else that may work, though…” He stopped, and pulled her in for another kiss, though a shorter one. “I can tell you all about it later. Let me help you with your bags.”

  She followed him through the clearing she remembered from her memorable visit two months before. “How is Craig? We talked a few times, but I didn’t want to push him.”

  “We don’t see much of him. He works at a local veterinary hospital, but he also is talking about going to visit another shifter pack in another part of the country. Too many memories here for him, I think.” Mark headed towards a separate group of homes.

  Renee wondered where she was staying this time. She hoped it was with Mark. He’d come to visit her briefly a few times since she returned home, and met her family, but they had yet to spend the night together.

  “Ah.” He seemed to read her thoughts. “I was thinking you’d stay with me. I have a guest room. I’m not expecting anything.”

  She kissed him, moving first to kiss the little furrow between his dark eyebrows. “That sounds good. My things are mostly in my parents’ garage. I want to find a home near here.”

  “Very near,” Mark said under his breath, though she caught it.

  She stepped into his home as he keyed in the alarm. It was spacious, with comfortable soft blue sofas with bright blankets and a large fireplace that also opened into the kitchen behind it.

  He was gazing at her, an odd expression on his face. Then he shook his head. “I think I’ve dreamt that you were here, with me.” A slow smile lit up his face. “But not in this room.”

  “What?” She went and took his hand, feeling the need to touch him.

  “You were wearing the jewelry.”

  “I thought it was in your father’s safe?” She recognized the look spreading across his handsome face from their all too brief make out sessions over the long, past two months, while she prepared to come down here and join him. “Mark?”

  “Just the jewelry.”

  She could feel herself heating up. “Maybe that could be arranged.”

  “After we are mated.”

  She was tired of hearing those words from him, having heard them each time she saw him over the last two months. “Why are we waiting again? I believe we have something between us. I want to explore it. I moved down here, didn’t I?”

  “I don’t think you really understand the connection yet. But you will.”

  Mark took her to Panera, which reminded her of their first kiss. They made it back in time to get ready for the ceremony.

  “Are you wearing sweats?” She purchased a lightweight dress for the occasion, worrying a little about meeting many of the pack members as Mark’s girlfriend.

  “I have to be able to shift, remember? I need things that come off easily. You may want to do the same.”

  “Oh really?” She thought he was making a sexy comment, but his dark eyes looked serious. “Why?”

  “My father had a vision.” He shook his head. “I don’t want to scare you.”

  “Tell me.” She reached for his hand.

  “That you shifted.”

  She felt a pang of nervousness in her stomach. “I’m not sure that’s possible. I signed up for an online course through
the Navajo Native American Research Center for Health, and they said after twenty one, there’s only like a 4% chance that I will have my first shift.”

  “Was it taught by a shifter?” He turned her around gently before moving to put on the necklace.

  “No, I don’t think so.”

  He snorted. “I suspect they don’t really know.” He put the necklace on, then kissed her nape under her hairline. “I will be there.”

  “Thank you all for coming tonight, even if it is a short ceremony and we are spread apart. Our last ceremony had to be canceled and it is good to be together again. Thank you to Adele for providing us with that beautiful song this evening.”

  “Hey.” Craig sat six feet from her and waved.

  She marveled again that she had a twin, and wondered why he was there.

  Mark stood up, expressing gratitude for the pack members’ health and adding a prayer for their Native American human kin. “We will now prepare to shift as our moon calls to us.”

  She could feel the eyes of the Alpha on her. She stood and stretched, a bit stiff after sitting on the ground. She heard a buzzing, thinking the sound system for the ceremony was not working. She saw Craig take a step towards her as she dropped to her knees – and shifted.

  The terrible pain gave way to sensation. She could hear her own breath, and was able to pick out everyone else’s around her, too.

  “Alpha!” She heard Craig yell. Then he dropped next to her, and she watched as fur and paws emerged. His fur was the same luminescent black she could see on her own paws.

  A large, grey wolf stopped in front of her before he was nudged aside by a brown wolf. She knew those eyes. Mark.

  He lowered his face to hers, rubbing against her. She could hear growls and howls around her in the beautiful light of the moon.

  She could smell him distinctly from his father and from Craig. He lowered his head in front of her. She knew he was her mate. She could almost see the connection in this form.

  Alpha turned to run, and she and the others followed. She saw some eagle shifters, some deer and other animals, and it all felt as if they were together, a family, a pack. Her pack.

  She didn’t know how long they ran. She felt so alive, so free. The urge to run was powerful, but she was tiring quickly.

  When they returned, she saw some of the group shifting back. She paused, watching as Mark’s limbs and muscles returned. He stroked over her fur, dropping next to her.

  “You can do it, my Renee. My wolf mate. Return to me.”

  She felt the pull, but couldn’t quite reach the change she felt she needed. The Alpha came next to her and put his hands on her head next to Mark’s. Then Craig appeared in front of her and added his hand.

  A moment later, Mark was covering her with a blanket and helping her rise.

  “Mate ceremonies during the Full Moon festival are lucky.” Alpha was saying.

  “Come on. She’s been through enough tonight, don’t you think?”

  Renee realized she was wearing the jewelry still as Mark set her down next to her partially ripped dress. “What happens in a mate ceremony?” She asked while slipping her dress back on, trying to hold on to the blanket while dressing.

  “It’s like a marriage ceremony. Alpha declares you mates in front of the pack. Then-“ Craig looked embarrassed. “Well, honeymoon time.”

  “Let’s do it.” She said, surprising the men into laughter.

  Mark pulled her close for a kiss.

  “It is my profound pleasure to welcome you to our pack, Renee, and to my family.” The Alpha’s words were drowned out by cheers and calls as Mark picked her up and spun her around for a kiss.

  He ran towards his cabin, stopping as Craig held the door open.

  “I’ll stay in your yard, make sure no one bothers you.” He said. “Congratulations.”

  “Craig?” She asked, looking at him. “Thanks for coming tonight.”

  He smiled. “Sure, sis. I had a feeling something was going to happen. Thought you might need help.” He hurried down to the end of Mark’s walkway, moving to sit on the ground.

  “There are lots of shenanigans that go on during mating nights. He’s not wrong. Sometimes our area is a little too much like a camp.”

  She laughed then kissed him. “We could have another ceremony with my family, couldn’t we?”

  “Of course.” Mark didn’t put her down until he set her in his large bed. The moonlight streamed into the windows as they kissed and explored.

  Renee was pulled into the heady sensations of lovemaking with her mate, feeling pleasure and delight she’d felt with no one else. When he stretched his big body over hers, she was more than ready. The sharp pain of his teeth near her collarbone melted away in the intense feelings of love and pleasure.

  Later, as they lay in the moonlight, Mark kissed the bite mark, nudging the jewelry she still wore aside. Then he paused. “It’s a Naja mark.”

  “What?”

  “True mates have marks showing their bond. Yours looks like a Naja pendant shape over your heart.”

  She pushed him onto his back so she could search his soft skin and found his mark over his heart. She brushed a kiss over the symbol before he gathered her in his arms.

  Craig will find his mate in Wolf Twin, coming fall 2020.

  About the Author

  Lia Violet is the pseudonym for an author of a bestselling mystery series with recipes who enjoys heat in and out of the kitchen. She is also a librarian and a black belt. Sometimes those skills intertwine in real life, but usually just in her paranormal or contemporary romantic suspense stories.

  Her Way Home

  By

  Kate Richards

  I left home because I knew I’d find what I was looking for in the city. A place where nobody knew me and nobody would judge me for my background. And I didn’t think I’d miss him. Or the land. I was wrong.

  The only bright spot was the chance to take the skills I’d learned home and use them to help my people.

  Chapter One

  I should never have left the way I did. I knew that days after I arrived in the city, but pride and burned bridges kept me from returning. Or even trying to repair the damage I’d caused. As I drove up the long highway that led to my family and everyone I grew up with, I tried not to remember all the things I’d said before moving to the city to find everything I thought I wanted but could not find at home.

  My home was in the high desert, far from pretty much anything or anyone, and I never dreamed I’d miss it. Or the sere landscape with its scattered succulents and cottonwoods and other plants. Jumbled rocks and volcanic lava flows. Water at a premium. In spring, the streams ran strong but now, in late summer, only the deep wells kept the tribe from thirst and the crops from drying up and blowing away.

  Why did it look so beautiful to me now?

  In Chicago, the lawns, the trees…most of the plant life had a deep, rich color, close to hunter green. Completely different from the lighter, dusty green of the cottonwood leaves and the earthy succulents. The sage… My eyes swam with tears as the subtleties of the desert soaked into me. I glanced in the rearview mirror and saw a rabbit hop across the empty highway. Earlier, a coyote had paced me for a few yards, and the many varieties of desert-loving birds had kept me entertained for miles. The beauty of the Eastern Sierra—how had I ever taken it for granted?

  The entrance to our lands from the highway was marked only with a large mailbox and a heap of painted rocks. We didn’t have a casino or any real retail businesses because we were off the beaten track and few travelers came anywhere near us. So when I left nearly a decade before, things had been pretty bad.

  But my sister’s letters had hinted at something, probably a federal grant, allowing them to hire a full-time doctor instead of having to drive all the way to a town over one hundred miles away for medical services. Also, I’d have a nurse to assist in the five-patient-room medical facility, and a couple of
others to clean up and cook later on, maybe. The skills I’d worked so hard to acquire were badly needed, but would my people welcome me back? Or would they remember my childish outbursts, my complaints and lack of appreciation for everything they held dear?

  At least I was certain Hawke would not be an issue. Cara had never mentioned him until that last letter where she reported he seemed happy now, and settled. Really had his act together. She hadn’t said married, but it sounded like he was at least engaged. I could read between the lines, didn’t need the details. Seeing him with whichever of the girls I grew up with or maybe someone from another area who had moved to be with him would be painful. But I had made that choice when I left after our big fight.

  I’d never be back, I’d told myself.

  And yet here I was.

  If not for my education, my time away would have been entirely wasted. Along with ten years of Grandma’s life. She’d been at least seventy when I left, possibly older since she refused to admit her age. Although Cara never said anything about her health, how good could it be? Her life had not been easy, and so many of the medical services guaranteed to the average American were unavailable to her.

  The first house I passed was Hawke’s mother’s trailer converted into a house by additions and paneling. It wasn’t fancy, but it was so homey. A single mom with the greenest thumb of anyone I knew, she managed to support her family by selling heritage seeds, first by mail order and, by the time I left, online. I’d eaten many of the vegetables and fruits those seeds produced. Sitting at the picnic table in her backyard in nice weather or her kitchen counter on the rare rainy day or chilly winter evenings were some of the best times of my childhood.

  With Hawke. I’d always been sitting with Hawke. Either at his mom’s home or my grandma’s, we’d been inseparable.

  This was going to suck. Two thousand miles away, my plans had all sounded doable. I’d signed a five-year contract to run the new clinic, feeling that I needed to give back in some way, to try to make up for the attitude I’d left with. My eighteen-year-old self had been far less than kind.