Unexpectedly Mated (BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance): An Alpha male. A curvy but sassy BBW. A trip to Sin City neither will ever forget. (Sassy Mates)

by Taiden, Milly

  “I’m going to kill you,” Grady said as he slammed her against the wall again.

  The room spun. Her coat was soaked with blood. She clawed at his sides, the sound of his howls of pain something she never thought she’d enjoy.

  “Not if I kill you first,” she said.

  “You, the Wolfe and your entire family are dead,” Grady snarled. “I know more than you realize.”

  “Don’t let go, Nic!” She heard Jake yell amidst the fighting.

  “What are you talking about?” She braced herself for another impact on a piece of furniture. Grady didn’t give up trying to shake her off. “Know what?”

  “Your little town is going to be overrun with Rahound’s rogues soon.” He hit one of his own men trying to knock Nic off.

  “We’ll get rid of them. Caleb will take Rahound down,” Nic said with a lot more assurance than she felt.

  “No, he won’t.” Grady’s chuckles in her head pushed her from angry to furious. “He’ll be killed, just like your sister.” His diabolical laughter chilled her to the bone. “I’ll enjoy making you watch her die.”

  An overwhelming pain and anger crowded her heart. There was no stopping the beast bent on Grady’s destruction. She dug her claws deeper into his side, hoping to shut the damn laughter out of him. He squealed in pain. A small measure of comfort crowded her chest at his pain. She squeezed her jaw shut, canines meeting and pulverizing anything in their way. She crushed the bones in Grady’s neck.

  The whole world felt as if it had gone on a stand still. The sounds of her own growls, the scent of Grady’s blood and her animal’s primal urge to kill took over.

  A new sense of power filled her and she crunched down on Grady’s neck until her canines met. He couldn’t have been so Alpha. She, a newly formed wolf, had taken him down. His men did more to defend him than he did himself.

  Nic let loose of the wolf almost twice the size of hers and fell to the ground. She couldn’t stand. Couldn’t walk. Could barely breathe. The world started to drift away. All she heard was Jake call to her as he pushed his muzzle by her face.

  “Nic?” His voice sounded so distant. “Baby, stay in the wolf. You’ll heal that much faster.”

  She wanted to talk to him. To tell him she was sorry she couldn’t be the mate he needed. The words wouldn’t come.

  “Sleep, darling. When your body heals, you’ll be back to yourself.”

  Jake shifted. He knew he was wounded and needed to heal, but she needed him more. A bloody Jaxon, Mason and Aric also shifted. Jake picked up Nic’s bloody wolf up on his arms and held her close to his chest.

  “Is she okay?” Jaxon asked, voice still rough with his beast.

  Jake gave a sharp nod. Letty rushed through the door at that moment. Her wide eyes took in the bloody fight scene and naked shifters. She gasped when she got to Barbara, who had yanked down a curtain and covered herself with it.

  “Where’s Nic?”

  Letty’s gaze dropped to the wolf in Jake’s arms. She shook her head, disbelief obvious in her eyes. “No way. Is that—?” She visibly gulped. “Is she—?”

  Fear and concern drifted in powerful waves from her. She hopped over the bodies on the floor and almost slipped on a pool of blood when Jaxon grabbed hold of her. She blinked up at him, her gaze studying his still animalistic features.

  “We’ll stay here and call a cleanup,” Aric said, tugging bodies to the center of the room. “We’ll also get our friends in the human police department to come get the parents. Anybody who would willingly throw their daughter to the wolves deserves no mercy in my book.”

  Jaxon used a torn T-shirt to wipe blood off his hands, his eyes still glued on Letty. “Human trafficking is against the law.” He smiled. A vicious smile that reminded Jake why his pack never liked to see him angry. “I will have some friends of mine make sure those two regret ever trying to sell their daughter.”

  Letty nodded. “Thank you. They need to be punished for what they did to my sister.”

  “We need to lay her down,” Barbara ordered.

  The words jerked Letty out of her trance and she shoved toward Jake.

  “Let’s take her up to her old room.” She darted up the stairs, Jake and Barbara following behind her.

  Jake nodded. He wished the couple luck. If he had anything to do with it they’d be let loose in the forest during a hunt. They’d never think of hurting anyone again after that.

  Nic’s room was clean and devoid of anything personal.

  He laid her on the bed, watching her blood matted fur. The massive bleeding of the gashes in her flesh had slowed down.

  “She took everything personal when she left, I guess.” Barbara ran in from the attached bathroom with wet washcloths. She sat down next to Nic on the bed and proceeded to clean the blood off her fur. Jake sat on the other side of the bed and took the second cloth to wipe his mate’s muzzle.

  “What do you mean?” Letty asked, standing to one side of the bed, watching.

  Barbara stopped to point around the neat but cold room. “There’s no personal touches here.”

  Letty shook her head. “There wouldn’t be. Mother and father don’t do the whole photos bit. Unless it was a single family portrait or something to go in a newspaper, they weren’t interested in anything personal.”

  Barbara gasped. “What about baby photos? Videos? Anything of you guys growing up.”

  Letty gave a wry twist of her lips. “Nothing. This is not your usual family. My mother, from what you saw, is not the usual parent. She’s never really been concerned with us as people. If it affected her somehow she was interested. Otherwise, not really.

  Jake’s stomach churned. He knew Nic was struggling with her family relationship, but he didn’t realize it had come to that. A family that was made up of absolute strangers.

  “At least you and Nic have each other,” Barbara mumbled and caressed one of Nic’s paws.

  “Nic is…” Letty trailed off, her brows dipping as if she couldn’t think of the right words. “She’s very insecure when it comes to emotions. She has a hard time displaying them and showing what she feels.”

  He’d gathered that much. He dug his fingers into Nic’s thick golden coat. Her breathing was stronger, not as reedy as before. Her wounds had been healing pretty fast.

  “She’s confused,” Jake heard his mother say. “She doesn’t know how she feels because she’s never really allowed herself to feel anything.”

  Letty gave a soft laugh. “You’ve gotten to know her pretty well.”

  Jake met his mother’s sad gaze. “She’s not as hard to read as you’d think.”

  Maybe he needed to look deeper at Nicole. Yes, she held back, but with that past, who wouldn’t? He loved her. Absolutely. Truly. There was no way he’d spend his life without her, unless she didn’t return his feelings. But with how well she closed herself off, he wasn’t even sure about her on that end. The question was: would he be willing to spend his life with a mate that might never admit her love for him? Yes. For Nic he’d do anything.

  Nic was so withdrawn. She kept her emotions hidden so well. All he could easily read in her was fear and worry. Those two she let out without any problem. She had to have spent her entire life hiding her emotions to the point she didn’t even realize she did that.

  He glanced at the sleeping wolf. His mate. She’d fought like one of the men. She hadn’t cared that Grady was bigger or stronger. That he was an Alpha. All she’d cared about was protecting her own. If that wasn’t the signs of an amazing woman, he didn’t know what was. She was his perfect mate. The woman he loved that might never admit to loving him back.

  Nic opened the door to the suite with a tight smile. Her nerves were getting the best of her. Jesus. Jake looked amazing. He wore a pair of black dress pants and a plain black Tee.

  “Hi.”

  He glanced up and down her body, from the pink sandals up to the black and pink mini dress. “You’re sure you want to do this? We can always stay h
ere.” He licked his lips. “I’m sure I can find something better to eat for dinner.”

  Holy shit. The man really did have a way with words. “If we don’t go to that show, Jordan’s feelings are going to be hurt. She went through a lot of trouble to get the tickets.”

  He stepped closer, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her flush against his body. Then he crashed his lips over hers. The kiss was bold. Hard. Sexy.

  A reminder that he was her man and she couldn’t fight it. The wolf she was still getting used to, pushed under her skin, looking to get closer to Jake.

  Before she got a chance to really get into the kiss, he pulled back. His eyes glowed that golden amber from the animal. “Let’s go or we’re going to stay and I’m going to fuck you over every surface in this suite.”

  God damn. He made shit so difficult. She licked her lips, loving the taste of whiskey he’d left on them. “Whatever happened to let’s go have dinner and then fuck you over every surface in this suite?”

  His head dropped to nuzzle her neck. “Oh, that’s coming. I just want to establish if you want to go to that show, we better leave or we won’t make it.”

  She jumped out of his arms and pulled him toward the entrance. “Come on. You can definitely fuck me later.”

  He slapped her ass over the clingy dress. “Can’t wait.”

  The show had been worth it. She’d never seen something so cool. A burlesque, circus, all kinds of weird funny shit show that kept them entertained the entire time.

  “That was awesome.” She grinned, entering the hotel lobby holding his hand.

  “It was. I had my doubts when the chick started talking about jerking off her boyfriend, but it was pretty funny.” He smiled.

  Their walking together in a hug seemed so natural. It was weird and nice. A couple took the elevator at the same time as them.

  “Baby,” the guy said. “You’re making a big deal out of this.”

  The woman, a pretty blonde whose eyes glowed the usual shifter gold jerked away for the guy. “I don’t think so.”

  “But—”

  She glared at him. “In what brain does it become a good idea to allow women to touch you all over?”

  The guy shrugged, not bothered in the least over his companion’s anger. “It’s part of my job.”

  The blonde curled her tiny hands into fists. “Yeah, well I am tired of watching women all over you like I don’t exist.” Her voice rose and a soft growl sounded after. “You either leave that job, or I leave.”

  The elevator dinged and they left, their argument still loud down the hallway.

  Nic’s good mood suddenly soured some. Jake had a bunch of women flocking over him at his job. His strip joint meant he was always going to be the center of attention in Blue Creek.

  “She’s got some serious insecurity issues,” he said, reaching for her hand.

  Nic took a step back, frowning. “What do you mean?”

  “Obviously he doesn’t want anyone else, but she’s so set in being pissed at what he does she’s not even seeing that.”

  She blinked. “Maybe he should be more concerned with the fact his job is something she’s having a problem with. If he cares about her so much, shouldn’t he be doing whatever is in his power to make sure she’s not feeling insecure?”

  Jake cocked his head. The elevator dinged on their floor. She brushed past him, ignoring the hand he offered. This wasn’t their fight, yet something about it felt so familiar.

  “Nic, you can’t be serious. That’s like you being pissed because I own a strip joint and my clients are women.”

  She turned to face him, unsmiling. “Why is that so difficult to believe? You have tons of women throwing themselves at you. Am I supposed to sit by and like it?”

  He smiled as if she were joking. “Sweetheart, be serious.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You know I don’t want anyone else. There could be a million women in the club and none of them call my attention like you do.”

  His words should have made her feel better, but they didn’t. Instead she felt empty. As if what she’d been waiting for wasn’t coming.

  “You live the life that most men would kill for,” she pointed out. “A big business with lots of clients. Women always ready, willing, and able to drop at your feet. And you think that wouldn’t worry any woman in a relationship with you?”

  She didn’t give a shit if they were married or mated or whatever the fuck. When it came to being secure about her man, she wasn’t at that level. She was still in the kiddie pool, wading through the emotions he brought out in her. The new feelings she didn’t know how to handle and the new animal that had her own agenda when it came to Jake. Keep him.

  Nic entered her suite and kicked off her heels, angry that she let the entire conversation get to her. So what if she was married to Jake. They could get a divorce. In fact, based on what he was saying, maybe they should.

  “Are you really worried about me going to other women in the club?” he asked, the disbelief real in his tone.

  She wasn’t going to answer that. It would make her sound like a fucking idiot if she did. An insecure woman who needed to learn to trust him. Only she didn’t even trust herself when it came to feelings. So how could she go trust anyone else?

  He grabbed her by the arm, turning her to face him. “Tell me what’s wrong. I can tell something is bothering you.” He leaned in, pressing their bodies together. “Don’t shut me out.”

  She could easily let their sexual attraction take flight. She wanted him so badly. He truly was the only man to make her wet with just a single look. This wasn’t about sex, though. It was about feelings. Feelings she didn’t know how to explain. Feelings she’d never had to worry about before. It was about loving a man who never used the word love. A man who’d shown he cared, but she had no idea how deeply. How could she decide if the risk to her heart was worth it without knowing that?

  “What do you want out of this?” she asked, hoping he’d help enlighten her with his own words.

  “Out of you and me?” He cupped her face in his hands and looked her straight in the eyes. “I want forever.”

  “Okay.” Not much information from that. “Why?”

  “Because you’re the only woman I want. The only woman my wolf wants. You and only you make me crazy to be inside you. I can’t think when you’re not near me. And when you are all I want is to be with you. In you.”

  She gulped. That was pretty specific. Sex. Everything he’d said revolved around lust and sex. Nothing about feelings. Nothing about the love she was so scared to let loose. The love she already knew she felt but refused to acknowledge.

  “I always figured that you enjoyed owning that club because you were a womanizer.”

  He barked a cynical laugh. “When have you seen me with any woman? Tell me.”

  She licked her lips. “Maybe you don’t pick up women at your club, but that’s what they want, Jake.”

  Jake growled. “And the woman who is my mate, my wife needs to trust that I won’t be doing that. That I’m not interested in anyone but her.”

  “I’m sorry. Maybe you’re asking for too much from a relationship that started a handful of days ago.” She shook her head, pulled out of his hold and stepped back. “I want to be alone.”

  He shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants. “Nic, don’t do this.”

  “Jake, please. I need space,” she said, her gaze sliding away from him. She marched into the bedroom and shut the door. Shut him out. And shut out her feelings for him. Fear won.

  Jake downed another shot of whiskey. The liquor no longer burned. It now joined the many others before it in his stomach with a small sting.

  “There you are!” Ellie hissed. She flailed her arms wildly. “What the hell is going on?”

  He didn’t want to talk about it. His mate didn’t want him. He’d seen the fear in her eyes over her feelings. She didn’t want to love him. Did she care about how much he loved her? No
pe. Or how ready he was to give his life up for her? Not even a little. All Nic was worried about was being hurt. Not much he could do about that. She was the one who had to take a chance on them.

  “Nic and I, we’re over.” He lifted a new shot to his lips and let it slide down his throat.

  Suddenly a hard smack sounded and a slight twinge radiated over the back of his head.

  “What the hell, Ellie,” he snarled and rubbed his head. “Why did you hit me?”

  She yanked on his arm, moving him from his stool. “Come on, you idiot. She’s leaving.”

  His pride was wounded and dammit he hated to think that he’d done something to push her away. That his business was something she couldn’t handle. Nic didn’t want to trust him and he couldn’t be with someone who questioned everything when he was damn obvious about her being the only woman he loved.

  “Let her go.” He shrugged, the pain in his chest growing with every painful breath out of his lungs. “She doesn’t want me.”

  Ellie slapped him over the head again. “Of course she wants you. She loves you.”

  Jake turned around and glared at Ellie. “If she loves me, then why is she leaving? Why is she using my club as a reason to break things off?”

  Ellie sighed and sat down at the stool next to his. “Because she doesn’t know what she’s feeling is love.” She smiled sadly. “Think about it. She’s never had anyone tell her they love her. She’s got all these feelings scaring her and you haven’t said anything but how much you enjoy sleeping with her.”

  He opened his mouth but Ellie lifted a brow as if asking him to deny it.

  “You guys are all the same. You assume that mating a human woman with trust and emotional issues is the same as mating one of us.” She took the shot on the bar and drank it in a single gulp.