He pulled in a sharp draw of air when she put her hand on his wrist, and a wide grin cut across his face when he opened his eyes.
“My Gracie.”
“Hi, Finn.”
He rocked a few more beats, grinning coyly at her and looking so tired with his heavy-lidded eyes and hollowed cheeks. “You came.”
“I did. Come on.” She took his hands and helped him to his feet.
“Where we goin’?”
“I think you need to get some rest.”
“Hard to sleep.”
“I know, especially with the full moon coming. I’m sure Alpha wouldn’t mind if you tried again for a few hours before work.”
She didn’t really care if Alpha minded. She was going to make sure Finn got what he needed, even if it meant she had to yell at him to make him get out of his own way. Lisa had to do that to Colt sometimes.
They waved at all the other wolves on the way through the courtyard, and she stopped in front of Alpha, who’d bent to tie his shoe in front of the newly erected bulletin board.
“I’m taking him home, Alpha.”
“Full moon tonight. I don’t guess you need to be reminded,” Alpha said.
“No. Hard to forget.”
“Be careful.”
“He’s not going to hurt me.” She wasn’t going to let him.
“Don’t worry about rushing him back. I’ll plug in one of the new guys for guard duty tonight. Maggie’s used to Finn, but she can bitch at me about the swap later.”
“Thanks, Alpha.”
Graciella got Finn moving again before Alpha could provide any further commentary, and she looped Finn past the greenhouses, where she shouted to her boss, “Can I have the day off?”
From somewhere inside, he shouted, “Ugh. More dirt for me to have all to myself, I guess. See you tomorrow.”
Tomorrow sounds good.
She didn’t say anything else until she got Finn into his apartment and locked the door.
He stood by the bed, rubbing his eyes like a tired kid fighting sleep, and it hurt her heart that like most wolves, Finn never really had a chance to be a kid. Lisa had tried to give that to her sisters, so there was some fun interspersed with of all the heavier stuff, but there was no way to disguise what they were, and what they were a part of. Wolf culture was an unforgiving thing, and they all needed to start cutting themselves some slack.
Graciella helped him take his clothes and boots off and got him into bed.
He sat up, shaking his head and trying to nudge her away. “I’m all right, Gracie.”
“You don’t have to fake it for me. Let me help you.”
“You always helpin’ me. When am I ever gonna do somethin’ for you?”
“You do plenty for me.” She left her clothes near the foot of the bed and settled beneath the sheet. They had less than twelve hours to lie in a naked wolf pile and cuddle and heal, and she didn’t want to squander a single second of it.
His skin was hot to the touch with fever, but she pressed against him anyway. She slung her leg over his, nestled her face into the crook of his neck, and caressed his arm.
He started rubbing her back, dragging his fingers up and down her spine, half arousing, half ticking, though neither were likely his goal. Like Graciella, he probably just needed to touch.
“What do I do for you, Gracie, ’sides get you in trouble?”
“Well. You make me stand up for myself.”
His laugh was dry. “Yeah, you do that.”
“I wasn’t very good at it before, but I guess I never really wanted anything bad enough, until now.”
“You talkin’ ’bout me?”
“Don’t sound so surprised. I know you’ll take care of me, and you’ll let me take care of you, too.”
“I want that.”
“Me, too.”
“Lisa made me promise that—”
Graciella giggled. “I can imagine exactly what she made you promise. I bet she even threatened to castrate you if you didn’t fly right.”
“She didn’t, but she had that look in her eye. You know the one.”
“I know it well. She used to use it on our old alpha. I think in the end he was glad to be rid of her.”
“Do you mind so much? Taking the…you know.”
“Birth control? Nah. I’ve been on it for years. What’s a few more? Wolves plus condoms equals accidents. They’re not made with us in mind.”
“We might get ourselves together in a few years. Have a little house of our own.”
“This is fine for now.”
“It’s not much.”
“It’s enough for us. What more do we need?”
“All I need is you.” He let out another of those rattling exhalations and pulled her close.
His heart thrashed against his chest as his wolf tried to make himself heard in the conversation, but she knew he was excited. He didn’t need to rough up his man’s body to prove it.
Lie down and sleep, wolf. She tamped that wild energy down in him and imagined that wolf retreating to his cave, yawning.
At that very moment, Finn yawned, and muttered, “Sorry.”
“Sleep.”
“I’m not very much fun today, Gracie. It’s just—I’ve been too wired to—” Finn’s voice got quieter at the end, marking his descent into restful sleep.
She’d lie with him for a while until she was sure he’d rest, and then she’d get up and organize their new life—figure out where to do laundry, and how their schedules would overlap. Plus highlight all of the full moons on the calendar so she’d know which nights she’d be on that ATV with Leticia, following the pack into the desert for their runs. Then put real food in his refrigerator, and figure out what kind of curtains to get for those big windows.
For the moment, though, she’d rest, because she needed some restoration, too. Anxiety finally quelled, her eyes closed and her fingers laced between his.
“Gracie,” he whispered.
She cringed. She hadn’t meant to rouse him.
“Love you.”
She smiled against neck and squeezed his hand.
All the wolves had nicknames, except the newcomers. They said something about who the wolves were, or had been. According to Colt, the names had been given after they’d spent years together—all except for Adam’s name. As alpha, his name had been earned, not given.
Alpha. Beast. Loner. Idler. Scion.
Graciella thought it was time for her wolf to have a name, too, and she was going to be the one to give it.
“Love you, too, Maker.”
There was no better name for a man who created such pretty things out of limited resources. For a man who always made the most of what he had.
For a man who touched something in Graciella and made her want something so badly for herself that she found the courage to demand it.
“Maker?” he asked softly. “I like it.”
Then he nodded off.
Relieved, she did, too.
The End
Read about Christina in Beast and Lisa in Idler—both available now.
ABOUT
Norseton Wolves
As security guards for the Afótama clan, the Norseton Wolves will stop at nothing to neutralize threats, but it's their mates who really make them howl. Learn about their arrival in Norseton in the Afótama Legacy novel THE CHIEFTAIN'S DAUGHTER, and then read about the alpha-in-waiting Anton in the first novella in the Norseton Wolves series, BEAST.
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Holley Trent
Holley Trent is an award-winning author of more than forty works of paranormal, contemporary, and erotic romance. Raised in rural North Carolina, she currently resides on the Colorado Front Range and loves dropping Southern characters into Western settings.
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Claimed by Heart
Dragon Bond
Eris Sage
Sandra Shaw’s holiday getaway is not off to
a good start. She’d wanted solitude next to a roaring fire, but instead she’s stranded during a snowstorm that’s getting worse with every passing minute.
Dragon shifter Ormr Vale has spent most of his life taking care of others, but now that his sons are settled, he needs to shake things up. Sandra, the woman he rescues does that just that, and as he and Sandra grow closer, he wonders if she might be the best Christmas present he’s ever gotten.
ONE
“Are you sure, Father? You can spend the holidays with us,” Exander said.
Ormr Vale looked at his oldest son and couldn’t help but notice how different he seemed—softer, happier—since he’d found his mate. And he didn’t have to look at his other son to know that his youngest would look much the same.
“I am,” he finally said.
Both of his sons stared at him skeptically.
Ormr smiled. “I appreciate all of your concern, but I’m perfectly capable of spending a week alone, even if that week includes Christmas.”
After another glance at his sons, he turned to their mates, glancing first at Jane and then at Bell. Both shared the same skeptical expressions as their husbands.
“Of course you’re capable, Ormr. But you don’t have to,” Jane finally said.
“No. I don’t have to. I’m choosing to.”
“But, Father,” his youngest, Kyr, said, “we’ve always spent every holiday together.”
“And I enjoyed them. But you were younger then, didn’t have families of your own.”
“Ormr, you are our family, and you should be with us during the holidays,” Bell, Kyr’s mate said.
“Thank you, Bell. But I’ve made up my mind. I’ll see you after the New Year. In the meantime, I’m sure you all have more important things to do. So get out of here.”
Ormr stood then and crossed his arms behind his back, hoping his message was clear.
“Father…” his sons said simultaneously.
“Good-bye, Exander. Kyr.”
Then he moved a few steps and kissed Jane on the cheek, did the same with Bell. “Merry Christmas, daughters.”
Then he ushered them all out of the door, and dead-bolted it behind him just for good measure.
His sons worried over him too much, though he supposed he appreciated the sentiment. It had been just the three of them for many years, and Ormr had gone out of his way to make sure that the family stayed strong after the boys had lost their mother.
But things were different now.
They were grown up, had mates of their own. They didn’t need to spend time worrying after their father.
He bypassed his study and went to the living room to stare at the twelve-foot-tall Christmas tree the staff had set up there.
Dragons had their own special days, so Ormr hadn’t been raised with Christmas as a tradition. But his wife had loved the holiday, all the pomp and circumstance of decorations and presents, and, most importantly, the special time with friends and family. And he’d done his best to keep up the practice. And now that his sons had finally mated and settled down, he hoped to have grandchildren to share those traditions with.
He smiled, thinking about the recent changes in his family. It was a wonderful thing, his boys finally having found their mates. He’d spent years waiting for it and not so subtly encouraging it, hoping that his sons would find at least some of the happiness that he had found with their mother.
And as they began their new lives, he swore he wouldn’t be a burden to them.
He looked out the window, saw the gathering gray clouds that filled the sky. Tried to ignore the sudden bout of loneliness that had overtaken him.
It would pass.
It always did.
TWO
“Are you sure, Mom?”
Sandra Shaw could hear the undercurrent of worry in her daughter’s voice even across the miles that separated them.
“Yes. Enjoy the holiday with your father, baby. I’ll be fine,” Sandra said, trying to keep her tone upbeat.
“Ma…” her daughter started and then trailed off, yet another sign of her worry.
“Ashley, he moved back to be closer to you. I want you to spend time with him and get to know him again.”
“But that doesn’t mean—”
“Without having to worry about me,” Sandra said, interrupting her daughter’s protest. “I’m fine. Enjoy the holiday with your father, spend some time with your brothers, and don’t worry about me.”
“If you’re sure…” Ashley said, sounding tentative.
“I am. Now I need to focus on the road. It’s getting cloudy out.”
“Oh! Be sure to turn your lights on. It’s still bright out, but they’ll help the other drivers see you. And be careful,” her daughter said.
Sandra chuckled. “Aren’t I supposed to be saying all this stuff to you?”
Ashley laughed. “Yeah, yeah,” she said, having long ago grown accustomed to her mother’s teasing about the responsible streak that had been there since her birth. Then she sobered. “But if you get lonely…”
“I’ll be fine. Have fun. I love you, Ashley.”
“I love you too, Ma,” her daughter responded.
Sandra hang up and tossed her phone onto the passenger seat, letting out an oath when it slid down between the passenger door and seat. She considered reaching for it, but then decided against it. She had been serious when she’d told Ashley that the skies were a little bit cloudy, so she needed to focus on the road.
And besides, maybe if the phone were out of reach, she’d be less tempted to call back. She very much wanted Ashley to get closer to her father, and she wouldn’t be an impediment, not even accidentally.
Her ex had moved across the country before Ashley had even started elementary school, and though he’d kept in touch with calls and occasional visits, he and Ashley hadn’t been especially close. But now that he was back, he’d been making an effort to reconnect, and this Christmas was the culmination of that long process.
So Sandra wouldn’t stand in the way. Even if she was terribly lonely and not at all excited at the prospect of spending Christmas alone, the very first one she wouldn’t spend with her baby.
Although, “baby” wasn’t quite accurate anymore. Ashley was twenty now, a grown-up, and Sandra was doing her best to let go.
It had been difficult, but she’d done a little better every day, and this holiday would be a good test. Ashley had stayed home her first two years of college, but she was planning to get an apartment in the fall, and who knew where life would take her after, so Sandra needed to get used to Ashley being gone.
And she wanted her daughter to experience life, be free to move and explore in ways that Sandra hadn’t had a chance to, so she swore she wouldn’t be the thing that stood in her way.
Which was why she was out here now, driving along the lonely stretch of road in search of her destination.
She had booked a faraway cabin intentionally, hadn’t trusted herself to stay at home. She knew Ashley would call, and she knew that, when confronted with the prospect of a microwave dinner and bottled eggnog for Christmas, she’d fold and accept the invitation her daughter would no doubt have forced her father to extend.
And that was a particular humiliation she could do without.
She’d seen her ex on occasion over the years, but the thought of spending Christmas with him, the daughter they shared, and the woman he’d left her for was not appealing. And despite the brave face she put on for Ashley, there was some ego involved.
Her ex and his wife were the perfect couple, three adorable sons, an adorable dog and an adorable cat, to make no mention of the positively adorable five-bedroom brick house she had dropped Ashley off at before.
And what was she?
Adorable in her own way, she supposed, but single, on the way wrong side of two hundred pounds, and a year away from the wrong side of forty.
Yes. She could do without the intense scrutiny and pity that such a visit would conjure, s
o she had splurged, booked a full week at a secluded mountain cabin, excited, if not at the idea of being alone, then by the knowledge that no one would see her should she decide to cry.
Now all she had to do was get there.
She hazarded a quick glance at the sky, the previously gray but fluffy and friendly clouds now darker and ominous. She pressed the gas a little harder, anxious to get off the road and to her destination.
A few minutes later, the first snowflake hit her windshield and dissipated immediately.
But it was soon followed by others.
She glanced out of her window at the swirling sky and frowned.
The news had said there might be snow, but only the day after tomorrow, if at all, something that Ashley had double-checked. Her conscientious daughter had even printed out a map and a copy of the week’s weather report, along with a few fun things Sandra might find time to do during her trip.
So this snow was a worrying concern, especially since she still had forty miles to reach her destination.
Sandra slowed and then gazed at the sky again, and took some relief in the fact that the snow seemed to be falling at a relatively slow pace.
Still, for a moment she considered turning around, but she was almost halfway there, so she wouldn’t turn back. Instead she continued on, confident that she’d make it before the weather got too bad.
THREE
A few hours after everyone had left, Ormr thought he would crawl out of his skin.
He was bored, and more than a little lonely. But he was also resolute in his decision. His sons would not worry over him. He could look out for himself.
He stood, paced the living room floor, the heavy bookcases, wood furniture, and antique clocks all relics that had been here since before his wife had died. There was a familiarity to them, but all of a sudden they felt stifling.
The entire place did.
For years he had preached moving on, and maybe it was time he took his own advice. What that would entail, he was less certain of.
Sugar, Spice, and Shifters: A Touch of Holiday Magic Page 16