by Kamryn Hart
Austin shook his hand too. Then he nearly got the air knocked out of his lungs when an elderly woman pushed past the others and gave him a bone-crushing hug. Her face was wrinkled, most prominently marked with laugh lines, and her hair was entirely silver.
“Excuse my mother. She’s overly friendly,” Gale said.
“Gale!” she exclaimed. “Everyone loves a good hug.”
Mateo had explained everyone called her Mama and her mate Papa around here. They were part of the Loike Clan, a polar bear shifter clan. They were permanent residents of Eurio along with the Toran Pack, a wolf shifter pack.
“This is Weston and his mate Cary,” Mateo said, continuing introductions. “Weston is the Alpha of the Toran Pack. Though, I could be Alpha if I wanted to since I can beat him in a fight. Isn’t that right, old wolf?”
“Finally over your fear of hurting me, pup? Took you a while to fight back when I hunted you in the woods last night,” Weston said with a sharp-toothed grin. He had a prominent white scar on his nose.
“You still discipline hard like a motherfucker,” Mateo growled. “I had to fight back. I’ll never be able to walk normally again.” Mateo was walking just fine as far as Austin could tell.
“That’s what happens to unruly wolves. I have to keep the pack in line.”
“Ignore them, Austin,” Cary said. Her voice was pretty, tone rich. “They’re posturing.” She reached up and slung her arm around the back of Mateo’s neck, forcing him to slouch so they were level. “This guy still hasn’t run with the pack since he came back.”
“I need to run alone,” Mateo said.
“So you do, but that doesn’t mean you can’t run with the pack anymore.”
“She’s right, Mateo,” Austin said. “You’re not dangerous.”
“I know,” Mateo mumbled. “Just need time.”
Cary punched him in the arm and let him go. Austin took Mateo’s hand then, and he couldn’t help but smile up at his mate. “I’m going to like it here,” Austin said.
“Yeah?” And then he saw it, how nervous Mateo was. He desperately wanted Austin to like it here. He wanted Austin to like his friends.
“Yeah,” Austin confirmed. “You have good friends. And even though it’s cold as heck out here, it’s beautiful.”
“Yeah?” Mateo said again, like he couldn’t find the right words. “Wait until you see an aurora. The pack likes to howl at them. You could come too—if you want…”
Austin laughed. And then he did something bold despite being shy. He howled. He howled and howled. Weston, Cary, and other assumed wolf shifters howled too. Then Mateo joined.
“You make an excellent wolf,” Weston said. “You’re welcome in my pack anytime.”
If Austin had been worried about fitting in before—which he had been—he wasn’t anymore. Mateo was his home, but Eurio was already starting to feel like home, too.
“I love you,” Austin said, wrapping his arms around the back of Mateo’s neck and gazing into his eyes.
“I love you, too,” Mateo leaned down and murmured against his lips.
And they kissed until all Austin knew was a love that would never fade.
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Message from the Author
Halloween Werewolf was a joy to write. I hope it was also a joy to read. I was apprehensive about writing this book for a few reasons. It's pretty close to my heart. It's also LGBT. Though the world has changed a lot, I'm pretty used to being the "odd one out." I want to write books about love. Love doesn't have rules. So I've been branching out, thinking about all the ways I can write these romances that last a lifetime because love is what makes our world beautiful. It's probably the greatest thing we're capable of. So, thank you for supporting and reading this book. No matter who you are, where you come from, or who you love, you are important. And I love you! Go out there and be your awesome self. Be proud of who you are and build others up. We're all in this together, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
About the Author
Kamryn Hart is a paranormal shifter romance fanatic. There’s nothing like the love a hot shifter guy has for his mate. Between the intense heat and sweet as candy romance, these stories are enough to make anyone melt away into blissful cottony clouds. Don’t forget the magical aspect. Fantasy is in Kamryn’s blood, so of course she’d choose a fantasy outlet for her romantic heart. (And let’s face it, wolf shifters are flipping awesome and the ones who started this obsession.) Kamryn will bring even the most reluctant shifters to their knees for their mate. After all, Fated Mates equal forever love.
Kamryn's website: kamrynhartauthor.com