by Celia Kyle
Jane gave him a shaky nod. “No going back. You’re right.”
She took yet another deep breath and released it slowly. Maybe she would finally calm down. They were at the restaurant and their reserved table—
Jane whirled to face him, one hand clutching his bicep. “But you know how he can be. He’s a biter. What if he shifts and bites the healer?”
“Jane.” He cupped her face and stared into her eyes. “We both know you’re not worried about Connor.”
“I am, though. I—“
“Jane. Everything—and I do mean everything—is going to be fine. Trust me.”
She closed her eyes and nuzzled his hand, drawing his scent into her lungs. “I’m fine. This will be fine. It’s just that there’s all this history and anger and… It’s a lot to handle.”
Reese nodded and released her, snaring her hand before leading her through the restaurant. He spotted Jane’s parents easily, their table in the very center, giving them a perfect ocean view. The moon already glittered on the water beyond.
They approached the couple, and both Lance and Ginger rose. Reese reached for Lance, shaking the older man’s hand, but making sure he kept his squeeze gentle. It’d been a shock to see Lance as a shell of his former self. Before the trip, Reese’s wolf had been prepared to rip Lance to shreds if he even looked at Jane wrong. Now his inner beast wanted to protect the older man.
Ginger pulled Jane into a hug, giving her a kiss on the cheek and then refusing to let go. As if she was afraid Jane would disappear the moment her hands left Reese’s mate.
“Thanks for coming,” Lance murmured, lips twitching and light in his eyes as he watched Jane and Ginger embrace.
“Of course,” Reese grinned. “We’re happy to see you both and get a little adult time.”
The she-wolf finally released Jane, giving her one last kiss on the cheek and squeeze of her hand before finding her seat. Reese and Lance followed, taking their places beside their mates.
“I remember when Jane was that age. Attached to my hip, shifting every ten seconds, and trying to eat butterflies whenever I wasn’t looking.”
Reese chuckled and nudged Jane. “See? Connor takes after you, not me.”
Lance chuckled and Ginger’s tinkling laugh followed. “What I meant to say was thank you for coming all the way to Ft. Lauderdale. I know it’s quite a journey from Wilde Ridge lands, and considering everything that’s happened…” Ginger reached for her glass and sipped her water. A nervous tick that Jane sometimes copied. “My point is that you didn’t have to come all this way.”
“We’re happy to be here, Mom.” Jane stuttered through the words. Reese reached out, snaring her hand and twining their fingers together. He was her strength, her rock, and he’d always step up for her. Even if all she needed was to have her hand held. “Really. We’ll be happy to have you both home with us, too.”
Reese glanced at Lance from the corner of his eye. The older wolf’s silence hadn’t gone unnoticed and now both he and Jane waited for him to weigh in.
“Well,” her mother said, clearing her throat. “We wanted to discuss that, actually.”
Lance sat a little straighter in his chair, but just before he spoke, a pint-sized waitress appeared to take their order—four rare steaks and a margarita on the rocks. A double.
Reese was ready to get back to the topic, but the moment the waitress scuttled away, Jane’s mother started talking just a little too fast.
“Connor seems like such a happy baby. Doesn’t he seem like a happy baby, Lance?” Ginger kept speaking as if she hadn’t asked her mate a question. “Does he get enough exercise? I know the pack is unsettled so it’s hard to take him outside sometimes, but I wondered—“
“Connor is perfect and his exercise is fine.” Reese didn’t give a damn if he sounded rude. He wasn’t going to get bulldozed. “I think you were going to tell us about your plans to return to the pack.”
“Right.” Ginger’s face folded into a soft frown, but she was saved from speaking when her mate cleared his throat.
“We’re not going back,” Lance spoke to Jane. “I know it would mean the world to you to have us close while you’re raising your family but we’re needed here at the healing center.”
Ginger nodded. “The National Circle wolves are good boys. They looked after your father and me and made sure we had everything we needed. You remember the one with dark hair? That’s Roman. Sweetest wolf you ever did meet. I’ve been trying to find him a nice little she-wolf.”
Jane groaned. “I’m sure he appreciates that, but I don’t understand. Your pack needs you. I need you.”
“You don’t,” her mother spoke softly, her eyes flashing with bittersweet understanding. “You haven’t needed us for a long, long time. Here, we can help people who do.”
“We hope you can understand,” Lance’s gruff voice joined in. “We’ll always have a place for you in our home. If you don’t want to stay with us, the National Circle has said you’re always welcome there.”
“But…” Jane shook her head and Reese wrapped an arm around her shoulders, gently rubbing her bicep. “Are you sure?”
Ginger offered a sad smile. “Janie, we’re so happy here. We don’t have the pressure of running a pack. The weather is beautiful. We’re really free for the first time. All we need is your blessing.”
“My blessing?” Jane’s eyebrows rose and then furrowed.
Lance nodded. “We won’t do anything that makes you unhappy. I know I’ve done quite enough of that already.”
She shook her head and trembled beneath Reese’s arm. He gave her a soft squeeze, more than ready to hold her up when her emotions told her to crumple.
“You’ll always have my blessing, but I’ll miss you.” Jane sniffled. “I…I love you.” She looked to her father. “Both of you.”
“We love you too, angel.” Lance reached across the table and Jane leaned forward to clutch his hand. “We love you, too.”
CHAPTER 7
C onnor had yanked off his booties four times in the thirty minutes Reese had been standing outside airport security while Connor sat in his stroller. The two of them were not-so-patiently waiting for Jane and his mother-in-law to wrap up their conversation. How much more could the ladies talk about? They spoke every damn day of our weekly long trip and they’d been chatting for hours already today.
Every few minutes they’d stop and hug, promising to call, write, or text, and then one of them would ask a question and the process would start all over.
First, Ginger had wanted Jane to know that lavender essential oil on Connor’s bedding would help him sleep through the night. That’d kicked off what felt like a never-ending conversation about their son’s sleeping habits.
All the while, he and Lance had stood back, the luggage at their sides and Connor squirming to get back into his grandpa’s arms.
Still, Reese couldn’t bring himself to break the women apart. And based on the way Connor hadn’t bothered to call for Jane and made do with him and Lance proved that the boy felt it, too. Jane needed this time with her mother—however short of a time it would turn out to be.
Reese glanced at Lance, and the older wolf rolled his eyes and gestured at his own mate. “She’s on an essential oil kick lately.” Lance glanced at his watch. “You may miss your flight.”
Reese bit back a laugh.
“Actually.” Lance rubbed the back of his neck. “Since we have a minute, there was something I wanted to ask.”
Reese raised his eyebrows. “What’s that?”
“God knows it’s not my business. You know, after everything that happened.” Lance’s cheeks held the slightest hint of red. “But…how are the Colemans? How’s the pack?”
Frankly, Reese had been surprised the other man hadn’t asked him about the pack right on the heels of seeing his daughter again. For a former alpha, it had to be a tremendous pain to be away from his people. To not know how they were handling being under a new alpha’s lea
dership.
“Honestly?” Reese sighed. “They’re adjusting as well as any of us can. It’s not easy for wolves to accept a new alpha.”
Lance rolled his eyes again. “It should be. After the way I acted…”
“You were still the alpha,” Reese reminded the older wolf. “You’ll always be in their hearts.”
Lance opened his mouth and then snapped it closed, giving Reese a solemn nod. “You don’t have to pander to me because I’m Jane’s father. I can handle—“
“I’m not.” He shook his head. “We don’t have an easy road ahead, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel.” The breeze picked up and Reese enjoyed the caress of the wind. “I will say it’s been paradise getting away from the squabbling for a little while.”
Lance grunted. “It’ll all end in good time.”
“Yeah, all in good time.” He tipped his head toward Connor. “And Jane is there to keep your legacy going.”
“And this little guy.” Lance ruffled Connor’s hair, drawing a giggle out of his grandson.
“You could come back with us? See everyone.”
Lance’s smile turned sad. “I can never go back there. Too many memories. And to be a member of a pack I used to rule…” He shook his head. “What little pride I have left couldn’t survive the trip. Besides, the wolves won’t accept you if I’m there. No, Ginger and I will stay here. There’s plenty for us to do. We can start fresh. Heal.”
“I had a feeling it was something like that.”
Lance shrugged.
“It doesn’t change the fact that Jane will want you around.” Reese had to point out the obvious.
Lance grinned. “And we’ll always have a guest room for you. The door is always open. Always.”
“You’re a good man, Lance.”
Lance shoved a hand through his thinning hair. “I’m getting there.”
Together, they looked at their mates, the two women still locked in conversation. Now they discussed teaching Connor how to hunt.
Studying the joy and interest on Jane’s face…it took everything in him not to walk over and wrap his arms around her waist. To soak up some of that warm, loving energy.
“Oh my gosh, is that the time?” Jane’s yelp rose above the noise of the crowd, and his mate spun to face him. “We’re going to miss our plane. I can’t believe you and Daddy were talking so much you almost let us miss our plane.”
Lance and Reese grinned at one another.
“You think missing our flight is funny?” Jane glared at them, but he spotted the smirk she fought to suppress.
Yeah, she knew who was at fault for the delay and it sure as hell wasn’t the men in the family.
In a bustle of energy and tears, Jane hugged her parents again and allowed them to squeeze the baby one last time before everyone said goodbye. They took their place in the security line while her parents headed toward the exit. It wasn’t until her parents were out of sight that Jane gave Reese her full attention.
“Do you think they’ll be okay?”
“Honestly?” They paused and Reese stared down at his mate, smoothing a hair away from her face and tucking the strand behind her ear. “I think they’re going to flourish. This is home for them now. And it’s time we get back to our home, too.”
Jane nodded. “You’re right. I know you’re right.”
Since she was agreeing with him and they were headed in the right direction, he didn’t remind her that he was often right. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yeah.” She glanced back one last time before giving the security line her full attention. “Remind me to ask for a motion sickness bag as soon as we get on the plane.”
“Why?” Reese bent and grabbed Connor’s bootie. Again.
A brilliant grin split her beautiful face. “I was going to wait to say anything, but…I don’t handle flying well when I’m pregnant.”
“You’re… When…” Reese gasped and hauled his mate into his arms, capturing her mouth in a deep kiss. Fuck security. Fuck the crowds. Fuck the whole world.
They were going to have another baby. Another little miracle.
And in that moment? He wasn’t sure he’d ever loved her more.
IF YOU ENJOYED THIS BOOK, please be totally awesomesauce and leave a review so others may discover it as well. Long review or short, your opinion will help other readers make future purchasing decisions. So, go forth and rate our level-o-awesome!
Interested in more Howls Romances from Celia Kyle & Marina Maddix?
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Her Desert Panther Princes - Mating isn’t in their plans, but plans can shift as fast as the panther princes of Adikar.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
CELIA KYLE
Ex-dance teacher, former accountant and erstwhile collectible doll salesperson, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Celia Kyle now writes paranormal romances. It goes without saying that there’s always a happily-ever-after for her characters, even if there are a few road bumps along the way. Today she lives in central Florida and writes full-time with the support of her loving husband and two finicky cats.
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MARINA MADDIX
New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Marina Maddix is a romantic at heart, but hates closing the bedroom door on her readers. Her stories are sweet, with just enough spice to make your mother blush. She lives with her husband and cat near the Pacific Ocean, and loves to hear from her fans.
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Copyright © 2017 by Celia Kyle & Marina Maddix
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No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Blurb
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
About the Authors
Copyright