It was as if he was telling her to let it be. To let it ride. Did he really mean it?
"Why?" she asked.
When he didn't answer, the lawyer began speaking again. She slumped back in her chair, her mood a mix between furious and hurt.
"As my client mentioned, he will sign the agreement to stop the eminent domain proceedings if you agree that Mr. Brock Justice will leave his daughter alone," Mr. Neilson stated.
"That's easier said than done," Dane said. "You don't understand what's happening between them."
"Here's what's happening between them…," her dad interjected. "A grown man, half wolf in his mid-thirties is preying on my younger daughter. After he's used her, he'll run on to the next one. I may not know your ways, but I've heard enough to know that you wolves don't stick around."
"That's not true, Governor Canon. Your daughter is the center of my world."
"She can't be the center of your anything if your Alpha wants this piece of property. Certainly, there are more than enough she-wolves for you to chase after on it. My decision is final. In exchange for your agreement to leave my daughter alone, I will stop the proceedings and never look back."
Dane sighed harshly and sat back in his chair. "But what if--"
"It's my final offer, Dane Magnus. You've fought for your land and I'm willing to hand you the trophy. I'll fight for my daughter's well-being and future."
"Don't do it," she urged. "I don't agree. I won't stay away."
"You'll stay away alright. I'll be hiring you a bodyguard to see to it. You could’ve gotten yourself into some serious trouble tonight out there at that nightclub."
“I would never let anything happen to her,” Brock countered.
Dane and Brock exchanged long knowing glances.
"Give us a few minutes," Dane said
He and Brock got up and huddled in the opposite corner of the room. She couldn't make out what they were saying, but by the look that crossed their lawyer's face, she could tell that he picked up on everything. After all, he was a shifter.
Several minutes passed before they sat back down.
To Chelsey surprise, Dane pushed the thick packet back across the table to her dad's lawyer.
Mr. Neilson shrank back in surprise. "What now? Don't you accept the terms? Certainly, you want your land back."
"No deal, Mr. Neilson…Governor Canon. We've decided we'll go head to head with the corporation who has an interest in our land. We tried to reach an amicable agreement, but it seems we'll have to get our land back by other means."
"What? So you're doing this so you can continue leading my daughter astray?" her dad protested.
Brock leaned forward in the chair. ”I can sit here and lie to you, Governor Canon, and tell you that I'll leave your daughter alone. Truth is that I can't. Because I don't want to. Because it would literally be impossible. As much as I want you to sign your name on the dotted line and give our Pack the peace of mind we need about the future of our land, I want to be in your daughter's life more. I want to be there for my future babies. The answer is no. I can't stay away from your daughter. She is my mate. She will be my wife. And she's pregnant with my child."
"Wh-what?" Her dad shot up out of his chair.
Chelsey gasped and swallowed the huge lump that rose in her throat. She clutched her belly as she tossed Brock a questionable look.
"How do you know?" she asked.
"We're wolf shifters, Chelsey. We smell the changes already happening in your body. And just as sure as I can tell that you're mine, I know that you've conceived."
"This is unbelievable!"
Her dad pounded his fist into the table right next to her and she jumped.
The audible growl from the other side of the table rumbled through the room. She didn't have to look up to confirm that the warning came from Brock.
"Dad, please." She touched him lightly on the arm. "I've had enough of the arguing for one night. Quite frankly, I don't want to spend my night down at the police station. I'll come home and we can talk about this together."
"This is shocking. Whatever you do, don't bring him along with you. I'm in no mood to make any deals with the man who knocked up my daughter." He backed out of the room with haste.
"We'll be in touch, Mr. Johnston," Mr. Neilson said, before following her dad out of the room.
Dane and Mr. Johnston left the room as well.
Chelsey rushed into Brock's embrace, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face against his chest. "I was so scared for you."
"Don't be," he mumbled into her hair. "I'll never leave you alone."
She lifted her chin and held his gaze. "You're not bluffing, are you? Am I really pregnant?"
"I wouldn't lie to you. I wouldn't lie about something like that. Depending on how accurate early detection pregnancy tests are these days, you might find your answer waiting for you as early as tonight."
"I trust you," she said, pressing a single kiss to his lips. "I just can't believe the embarrassment that I just went through."
"Dads are always protective and I don't blame him. It just looks like I'll have a hell of a lot more convincing to do than I'd initially anticipated."
She swallowed. "Yeah, but he'll come around."
"I do hope so."
Dane stuck his head back in the room. "Hey Brock, we've gotta clear the room."
Brock wrapped his arm around her waist. "Let's get out of here."
Chelsey walked across the police station flanked by two wolves, Brock and Dane. Her dad was nowhere to be seen, but she could make out his anxious voice in one of the closed offices. She didn't have the energy to argue with him anymore tonight. Not with what she'd found out. As far as she was concerned, her top priority was bringing a healthy baby into the world. She smiled at the thought of being a mother. She'd always wanted a huge family, but never thought she'd be so lucky so soon.
Dane had a driver waiting for them outside of the police station. She got in the backseat with Brock and they drove off.
35
Chelsey woke up the next morning to the sound of Brock's cell phone ringing on the dresser. The bed shifted and the warmth of Brock's arms left her when he moved to answer the phone. She could barely even remember coming to Brock's home and entering his bed. The stress of last night had worn her out. On top of that, her body was going through some interesting changes.
She rolled over and wrapped her arms around him as he was finishing up his phone conversation.
He kissed her forehead. "Hope you're all rested up. We've got a bit of a journey ahead of us."
"We?" She pressed her palm against his chest and lifted herself up a bit. "What do you mean?"
"Your first day back is tomorrow, isn't it? I wouldn't want you to miss any of your classes."
"You're going with me?"
"Why would I not? With you carrying my baby, I think you'll need the support and someone to take and back and forth to doctor's appointments. Especially the ones where I get to see our little one on ultrasound."
She smiled. "Someone's a little anxious, aren't we?"
He chuckled. "Yes, actually I am. This means the whole world to me. Everything that’s happened to me lately. Finding my true mate and learning that she's carrying my child. I just never thought it would happen to me."
"We're both lucky then. I just wish I didn't have to go back to that cramped apartment. But with only a few months left, I can't really complain."
"Dane just called to inform me that Garrett’s in town again. With the exception of Raoulf, who just picked up another assignment, we're going to try to get together real soon."
"You should. I remember you saying how you guys don't get to meet up often because of your job responsibilities," she said.
"Yeah, this is a nice window of opportunity since I don't plan on staying in town either over the next couple months. He tells me there's another stable Wolf Pack near your campus. They're a friendly bunch and wouldn't mind me staying on their turf te
mporarily. I'll see what they have in terms of home rentals out there, and that way I can stay close by, and of course, you can totally ditch your apartment to come keep me company."
"That sounds like something I totally would do," she said, tracing the hardened muscles of his upper chest.
“And I have more good news. The main reason Dane called was to let us know that the eminent domain proceedings were halted early this morning," he said.
"What? But I thought…"
"Yeah, I thought after we disappointed your dad that we'd have to fight for our land another way. Mr. Johnston pulled up the documents to confirm and it seems that your dad's signature is on the documents."
She sighed. "About last night. I know he'll come around. He can be a hard ass sometimes and he's kind of set in his ways."
"You don't have to explain. If it were my daughter, I'd respond the same way. I'll just be prepared to prove myself to him. I don't want to be the person who comes between a father and his daughter."
"Don't worry. I have to prove myself to him all the time. He won't understand this mating thing. That one will take time."
"Certainly. Would he understand if you became my wife sooner rather than later?"
Chelsey blushed. "Brock, are you asking me to be your wife?"
"That’s exactly what I'm asking, Princess. You will be my wife, won't you?"
Her belly chose that moment to growl in hunger and they shared a laugh.
"Does my acceptance include breakfast in bed?" she asked.
"Anything for my mate and mother of my child."
Epilogue
Four Weeks Later
Chelsey held the cell phone between her ear and shoulder. "Yes, Mom, I'm eating healthier now. You and Dad don't have to worry about that. Brock's been making sure of that. I'm gaining weight faster than I did my freshman year and Brock here claims it's sexy."
"Sounds like you've got yourself a good man. I can't wait to meet him."
Brock came up behind as she stood at the counter kneading some dough in preparation of dinner and kissed her temple. He smelled of fresh pine soap. She took a peek behind her and almost swooned at the sight of him wrapped in nothing but a towel. His skin was still glistening with water droplets from the shower. His hair was damp and slicked back. With one hand on the handset, she tugged at the towel, revealing the sizable package she'd been craving all afternoon during her class lectures.
She bit her lip and held back a gasp as he pressed his body against hers and bent his lips low to tease and sensitive skin above her collarbone.
"Tell her I can't wait to meet her either," he whispered.
"He says he can't wait either, Mom."
"I'll have time to brush up on my cooking skills before you guys get here. It's been so long since I prepared a dinner," she said.
"That's okay--"
Chelsey was cut off the moment Brock slipped his hands under her skirt. He pulled her firmly against his hardness. His mouth never left her skin. His breath fanned across her neck. He left heated trails along the column of her throat as he kissed and caressed her there.
"What was that? You sound a little breathless. Make sure you're not overworking yourself either," her mom said.
"I'm fine," Chelsey breathed. "I'm not overworked at all."
Brock's eager fingers flittered across her hip. She caught his hand and held it before he got her too worked up.
She covered the receiver and told him, "Give me a minute and we'll finish this."
"Will be ready when you are," he said in a low, husky voice and then sat at the kitchen table with erection on full blast and all.
"Is that Brock?" her mom asked.
"Yes, we're having an early dinner," Chelsey replied.
"I'm impressed that he moved out there just so he could be with you while you finished college. All and all, I'm glad you don't have to do this alone."
"That definitely makes things less stressful for everyone. Looks like we'll be back in town just in time for Halloween. I hope you brought some chocolate back with you from Germany."
"As a matter of fact, I did," she said. "But come home soon before your dad eats them all. I think he's gone through a box of them already."
"Tell him to lay off my sweets," she joked. On a more serious note, she asked, "How are you two?"
"We're getting along for now," she said. "I guess I have you to thank for that. After hearing how happy you are with Brock, we thought we could use some positive energy between us. Especially now that we'll be grandparents next year."
"I'm so happy for you two. So Dad's been getting adjusted to that notion without fuss then, right?"
"He's very happy about becoming a grandfather. He had a meeting with that other shifter you were telling me about. The leader. The Alpha. David? Daniel?"
"Dane."
"Yes, that's it. They're talking about doing something similar to what he did for the wolf packs in our hometown."
"So, I've heard," Chelsey said, turning back around to steal a glance at Brock who was still sitting naked at the kitchen table snacking on a few pieces of the raw veggies she'd used to make the salad.
"You know what, Chelsey. I'm going to let you two lovebirds go. I'll call you tomorrow and let you know how I did with my job interview at Tellevue County Library.”
"Good luck, Mom, but I know you've got this one in the bag."
"Take care."
"Your mom sounds nice," Brock said after she disconnected the call.
"You were listening, weren't you?"
"I couldn't help it," he said. "My sense of hearing isn't average by any means."
She walked toward him. "You know what else isn't average…?"
"What's that?"
He grasped her about the thighs, slid his hands upward, lifted her dress and revealed that she wore no panties. She pressed her lips down to his and straddled his lap. She was already wet and ready for him and she took him with ease. He groaned his pleasure.
"I think you know," she said, pushing herself down to the hilt over him until she was filled completely.
"Does this please you?" he asked, gripping her about the hips and directing her pussy up and down over his steely shaft.
"Yes," she moaned.
"That's perfect, Princess. You're so fucking perfect for me," he groaned, resting his head against her breasts before lapping at her nipple with his tongue.
In the privacy of their home, and where no one could ridicule or interrupt them, they made love. If this moment was any indication of what her future would hold, she was the luckiest woman alive.
Preview: Shifter Untamed
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Dane Magnus fought for and won the position of Pack Alpha, but to legally inherit the land left by his late human mother, the shifter needs to marry a human. His plan is easier said than done, especially when not just any woman will do.
Trina Daniels needs six figures to pay for her dad's surgery. Money she doesn't have. She's willing to do whatever it takes. Even if it means pursuing drastic measures, such as entertaining a scandalous, but lucrative offer by the womanizing Dane Magnus.
One steamy night leads to another. With the mate bond intact, there’s nothing either of them can do to tame their luscious desires.
But when outsiders begin to threaten their lives and their chance at happiness, they only have each other to rely on.
CHAPTER ONE EXCERPT
"Ms. Daniels, I’m calling to tell you that we won't be able to ship your last order to you."
"What?" Trina's eyes widened and her mouth fell open. "Hold on a second." She dropped a set of keys and handbag on the counter and took shallow breaths in an attempt to calm her escalating pulse. She pressed the cell phone to her ear to make sure she was hearing correctly. "Did you just say that you're not shipping my order?"
"That's correct. We weren't able to ship your order."
"There's a large convention in town all next week. I need those suppli
es on time to run my business."
The sound of the representative typing rapidly on the keyboard came through loud and clear. "We tried to process your credit card for payment three times between yesterday and this afternoon. Your bank declined all three transactions. Do you have another form of payment?"
Trina's heart dropped to her stomach. "You're kidding, right?"
There was money in her checking account. She'd just deposited the business earnings last week. How could the bank decline her purchase?
"I'm sorry, Ms. Daniels. Maybe there's a misunderstanding. You should call your bank. We can hold your order for an additional three business days so you can get this straightened out. I've notated on your account that you need the supplies as soon as possible. Just call us back when you have a valid form of payment and we'll expedite the shipping for you free of charge."
"Thanks," she grumbled.
Trina sighed in resignation and disconnected the call. Her laptop was in the back of the store and she rushed through the swinging panel doors to get to it. Her dad's old operating system couldn't power up quick enough and she drummed her fingers on the desk in the little back office as the CPU hummed to life.
This was ridiculous.
Last month she'd sat down with her accountant and they'd forecasted every single expense for the upcoming month. She'd gone completely broke before due to lack of budgeting and she promised herself that it would never happen again. But here she was…again.
Yet, once Trina was logged onto her bank account she realized her mistake. Her bank balance was lower than it was supposed to be. How could she have forgotten that she'd purchased emergency medication for her dad two days ago?
Money was tight these days and Trina and her father had been living from paycheck to paycheck for the last few months. As soon as earnings from the dry cleaning business rolled in, they rolled right out. Up until now, she'd succeeded in staying out of the red. It hadn't always been this way.
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