by L. P. Dover
Fuming, Killian turns his anger to Tia. “You betrayed me. You’ll regret it.”
Orin stands protectively in front of her, and it infuriates Killian more. “Fine. We can finish this right here and right now. You can’t beat me,” he hisses at Tate.
Tate smirks and holds out his arms. “Oh, I think I can.” His body shimmers and shifts to his true form. He used to be a solid gray wolf, but now he has my royal arctic blood flowing through his veins. Mixed in with the gray are strands of white, and he’s much larger than he used to be.
Killian’s growl echoes through the air. “How is that possible?”
“He’s my mate,” I shout. “My one true mate. You nor anyone else could stop it from happening.”
His eyes glow a menacing green. “Unleash me, Tia.”
Tia falls to the ground, screaming in pain. Orin wraps his arms around her and looks up at me. “She’s trying to fight it.”
“Unleash me!” Killian shouts, his feral power radiating all around me.
Tia has no choice but to give in. Killian bursts into his wolf, and Tia passes out in Orin’s arms. Killian lunges for Tate, and it’s all snapping jaws and claws. The second Roman and Barrett shift, I have no choice but to do the same. Tate may be stronger now, but there’s only so much one can do with three wolves attacking you, one being feral.
Taking a deep breath, I give in to my wolf, loving the feel of her taking over my body. It’s the first time I’ve shifted in weeks. She’s strong and ready to fight for her mate. Roman roars and charges toward Tate, but I lunge through the air, tackling him to the ground. We roll around, and I take a bite out of his abdomen. He howls in pain and backs away from me. I tower over him, and he lowers his head, showing his submission. He only gets one chance. If he attacks again, I’ll kill him.
Barrett and Killian attack Tate at all angles. His gray and white fur is matted with blood, but so are the other wolves.
“I’m going to take Barrett out.”
Tate growls. “Do it. I should’ve known they’d fight dirty.”
Barrett jumps onto Tate’s back, and I sink my teeth into his leg, tossing him across the yard. He yelps in pain but growls when he looks at me. I growl back, showing off my fangs which are much larger than his. He rears back and runs for me, but I’m ready for him. I’ve been training to fight my entire life. Micah taught me well.
I’m about to deliver the final blow when, out of nowhere, a giant white wolf slams into Barrett and rips out his throat. Micah. He pads over to me, staring at me with those blue eyes of his. I should’ve known he’d find a way to get through the gate.
None of Killian’s other wolves shift. They stand on the sidelines, watching as their crazed alpha circles around Tate. “We can take him out,” I say to Tate.
“No. He’s mine.”
Killian snaps at Tate, and his moves are sloppy and erratic. That’s what the rage does. Every time he lunges and tries to attack, Tate slides away with ease. He growls at the other men in his pack, but none of them make a move to help. That seems to anger him more. He jumps at Tate, and they roll around on the ground, snapping and clawing at each other. The second Killian’s neck is exposed, Tate delivers the deadly strike. Killian’s blood flows from his lifeless body, and the light dies from his eyes.
Tia sucks in a breath and clutches her chest. I run over to her and shift so I can hold onto her. “Are you okay?”
Tia rubs the spot over her heart. “It’s gone. I’m free.” Tears stream down her face, and she hugs me. “I’m finally free.” She lets me go and hugs Orin.
Micah stays in his wolf form, but Tate shifts and pulls me into his arms. “It’s over. Let’s get the hell out of here.”
“Yes,” I cry, holding him tight. “I’m way past ready.”
Chapter 37
Faith
“Is that everything?” Micah asks as he packs the last of my clothes into my suitcase.
I look around the room, and everything is empty. “That’s it.”
He zips up my suitcase and sets it on the floor. It was only two hours ago we were outside, fighting what will hopefully be the last fight of our lives. “I could’ve taken Barrett,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest.
Micah shakes his head and smiles. “I know, but I’m your protector. It’s my job. Plus, you’ve never killed anyone before. I like that innocence about you.”
My eyes burn. “You’re not my protector anymore, Micah. You’re free.”
He nods. “I know.”
Uncrossing my arms, I sigh and hug him. “Have you thought about where you want to go?”
He hugs me tight. “I thought I’d leave for a while. Nobody’s heard from Raelynn or the others. I really want to find them, especially after all this happened with you.”
“Who’s Raelynn?” Tate asks, appearing at the door. Micah lets me go and glances back and forth at us. Sheepishly, I look away for a second, hating I kept that secret from Tate. Tate’s eyebrows lift, and he leans against the doorframe. “Secret, huh? I heard that.”
Micah clears his throat awkwardly. “All right, that’s my cue to leave. I’ll see you both downstairs.” He grabs a couple of my suitcases and walks out.
“Raelynn’s a royal,” I confess. “And she’s not the only one. I wanted to keep them safe.”
Tate comes in and takes my hands. “It’s okay. I don’t blame you for keeping it from me.”
“I hope they’re okay. I don’t like that Micah can’t find them.”
He pulls me into his arms. “If anyone can locate them, it’ll be him.” He kisses my forehead. “Is that your last bag by the door?”
I nod. “Yep. I’m ready to get the hell out of here. Is Chase’s jet ready?”
Tate grins. “James is already at the airport. He asked me if I had a good vacation.”
Laughing, I walk with him out the door. “And what did you say?”
“I said it was kind of boring. James believed it. I think he’s more ready to leave Baker’s Ridge than we are.”
We get downstairs, and Colin holds up a duffle bag full of money. “What do we want to do with this?” With forty-eight fighters at two-hundred and fifty thousand each, it totals out to be twelve million dollars.
Tate looks at me and shrugs. “We’ll do whatever you want.”
“Let’s give it to charities. We have plenty of money.” Colin agrees with a nod and carries the bag out to the van. Tia’s not in the foyer, so I head to her room while the guys finish loading our things in the car. Her door is shut, so I knock lightly. “Tia?”
“You can come in. I’m just looking around.”
I open the door. “Do you have anything else that needs to be loaded?”
She glances at me over her shoulder and shakes her head. “No. I gave Colin the last of it.” Blowing out a sigh, she peers around her room. “This has been my home for so many years. It feels strange leaving it.”
“You’ll like Montana. I promise.”
She smiles. “I know I will. I’m not going to know what to do with my freedom. I can come and go as I please. Colin even said he’d take me out on a motorcycle.”
Laughing, I shake my head. “Of course, he did. That’s my brother for you. We’ll be experiencing a lot of new things together. There’s a lot I haven’t done.”
“I look forward to it.” She takes one last look around her room. “All right, I’m ready.”
All the guys are waiting by the front door when we arrive, except for Orin. “Has anyone seen Orin?”
Tate reaches for my hand. “No.”
I can’t help but feel a little disappointed. It would’ve been nice to tell Orin goodbye. “Guess we should go then,” I say.
We all head outside, and Tia climbs into the back with Micah while Colin gets in the driver’s seat. I’m about to get in when Orin’s voice catches my attention.
“Wait,” he shouts. I jerk around, and he races toward us with a bag slung over his shoulders. “Do you have room for one more?”
Tia jumps out of the van. “You’re coming with us?”
Orin turns to Tate and me. “I don’t belong here anymore. If you don’t mind, I’d love to find a home with your pack.”
Happiness overwhelms me, and I fling my arms around his neck. “That would be amazing.” I let him go, and Tia hugs him next.
He winks at me. “Besides, someone has a promise to live up to. You know, the one where you said you’d help me find a mate?”
“I haven’t forgotten,” I reply, grinning. “I don’t break my promises.” Tia takes his hand and pulls him into the van. Once we’re all in, Colin drives us away. I don’t even look back at the house when we exit the gate. “What will become of the Blue River pack?” I ask Orin.
He sighs. “Not sure. No one’s alpha enough to take over other than myself, but I don’t want the job. Who knows, maybe they should go their separate ways.”
Maybe. Maybe not. It’s not my responsibility to clean up Killian’s mess. Still, I worry about all shifters. I’m a firm believer in second chances. Orin’s getting his, and I know he deserves it. I just wish I could’ve helped others to get theirs as well.
Tate drapes an arm over my shoulders, and I breathe a sigh of relief. We’re finally on our way home. The nightmare is over.
Chapter 38
Faith
ONE MONTH LATER
So much has happened since being back in the states. Tate spent a week with my family so I could say my goodbyes and make the transition to the Great Plains Pack. Even Tia joined us and had a wonderful time practicing magic with Laila. She and Kami have become good friends, and they live together now. I think Kami being in medical school is rubbing off on Tia. She’s even thinking of going to college. Orin, on the other hand, has found a place with Grayson Construction. He fits in well with the others in the pack, and I can honestly say he looks happy.
Micah is still on the road, searching high and low for the missing royals. Every day I keep thinking I’ll hear from him with good news, but it’s always the same. Nothing. I keep thinking of Killian and how there are probably other shifters out there crazy enough to do the same things he did.
“You coming in, love?” Tate shouts.
I squint my eyes against the sun and watch him swim around in the crystal blue water. It’s our first vacation as a mated couple. We’ve decided to take short trips every month so we can see the world. Right now, we’re in the Turks and Caicos. Next month, we’re going to Iceland.
Brushing off the sand on my thighs, I get up and join him in the ocean. He pulls me into his arms, and I wrap my legs around his waist. “When we get home, you have a lot of painting work lined up. I think I had three calls last week asking if you’d do custom paint jobs in their nurseries like you did at Jason and Anna’s. Hope you’re ready for it.”
I kiss him. “Oh, I’m ready. I love painting nurseries.”
His hands slide down to the backs of my thighs, holding me tight against him. “Speaking of babies, what are your thoughts on having some of our own? It could happen any day now.”
I laugh. “Of course, it could. We’ve been putting forth quite the effort.” Cupping his face in my hands, I look right into his bright blue eyes. “Whenever it happens, we’ll be ready. You’ll make a great father.”
“And you’ll make an amazing mother,” he says in my mind.
He bounces me against him, and I smile when I feel how hard he is. “You seriously want to do that here? Like right now in the ocean?”
“Why not? Nobody’s around,” he says, chuckling.
I press my lips to his. “I have a strange feeling we’re going to hear the pitter-patter of little feet soon if we keep this up.”
He winks. “Hey, I’m fine with that.”
So am I.
THE END
More Royal Shifters are coming!
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author L. P. Dover is a southern belle living in North Carolina with her husband and two beautiful girls. Everything's sweeter in the South has always been her mantra and she lives by it, whether it's with her writing or in her everyday life. Maybe that's why she's seriously addicted to chocolate.
Dover has written countless novels in several different genres, including a children's book with her daughter. Her favorite to write is romantic suspense, but she's also found a passion in romantic comedy. She loves to make people laugh which is why you'll never see her without a smile on her face.
You can find L.P. Dover at www.lpdover.com.
Email: [email protected]
OTHER BOOKS BY L.P. DOVER
SECOND CHANCES SERIES
Love’s Second Chance
Trusting You
What He Wants (Trusting You Prequel)
Meant for Me
Fighting for Love
Intercepting Love
Catching Summer
Defending Hayden
Last Chance
Intended for Bristol
ARMED & DANGEROUS SERIES
No Limit
Roped In
High-Sided
CIRCLE OF JUSTICE SERIES
Trigger
Target
Aim
In the Crossfire
ARMED & DANGEROUS/CIRCLE OF JUSTICE CROSSOVER SERIES
Dangerous Game
Dangerous Betrayals
Book 3 - TBD
Book 4 – TBD
GLOVES OFF SERIES
A Fighter’s Desire – Part One
A Fighter’s Desire – Part Two
Tyler’s Undoing
Ryley’s Revenge
Winter Kiss: Ryley and Ash
Paxton’s Promise
Camden’s Redemption
Kyle’s Return
SOCIETY X SERIES W/HEIDI MCLAUGHLIN
Dark Room
Viewing Room
Play Room
FOREVER FAE SERIES
Forever Fae
Betrayals of Spring
Summer of Frost
Reign of Ice
ROYAL SHIFTERS SERIES
Turn of the Moon
Resisting the Moon
Rise of the Moon
Unleashed by the Moon
Bound by the Moon
(MORE TO COME)
BREAKAWAY SERIES
Hard Stick
Blocked
Playmaker
Off the Ice
STANDALONE NOVELS
Easy Revenge
Love, Lies & Deception
Going for the Hole
Anonymous
Love, Again
Fairytale Confessions
THE DATING SERIES W/HEIDI MCLAUGHLIN
A Date for Midnight
A Date with an Admirer
A Date for Good Luck
A Date for the Hunt
A Date for the Derby
A Date to Play Fore
A Date with a Foodie
A Date for the Fair
A Date for the Regatta
A Date for the Masquerade
A Date with a Turkey
A Date with an Elf
CHRISTMAS NOVELS
It Must’ve Been the Mistletoe
Snowflake Lane Inn
Christmas With You
MOONLIGHT AND ALEENA SERIES W/ANNA-GRACE DOVER
Moonlight and Aleena: A Tale of Two Friends