His Winter Mate: A Macconwood Pack Novella

by C. D. Gorri

  She’d convulsed around him when it happened. Her entire body seemed thrown into orgasm when his lips and teeth closed around her skin. Mine. The word had roared through his mind and body. Hell, it had practically deafened him.

  He’d asked her permission, but it was something he’d just felt he had to do. The way she was pressed against him now, he knew it was the right choice. He was never letting go.

  EPILOGUE

  Christmas Eve…

  Mike Bellamy grinned as his bride walked towards him down the makeshift aisle they’d created in his bar. She’d insisted they get married at The Thirsty Dog with just a few Packmates and friends.

  The entire place was unrecognizable. He’d hired Present Tastes to cater, and decorate and they’d used the holiday as the theme since both he and Claire were fans of the season. A red carpet sliced through the wood floor, thick ropes of pine garland hung from the rafters. The bride’s own bouquet was made up of white roses and mistletoe, with one red rose in the center, for true love.

  Mike wore a black tuxedo and waited impatiently for the ceremony to begin. He could not wait to vow to cherish, love, and protect his mate for all time. Her smile was radiant as they began, and he’d never been so happy.

  “Do you, Michael Bellamy, take this woman-”

  That was as far as the justice of the Peace got,

  “I do,” said Mike and grabbed his wife in a kiss so deep and true that she didn’t even notice…

  The end.

  Charley’s Baby Surprise

  A Macconwood Pack Short

  From The Grazi Kelly Universe

  by C.D. Gorri

  Copyright 2017 C.D. Gorri

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, places, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either part of the author’s imagination and/or used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to person, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental. This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. All rights are reserved. No part of this book is to be reproduced, scanned, downloaded, printed, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of any materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  To EA, thanks for waiting!

  Title Page

  Synopsis

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Connect

  Other Works

  Tagline:

  Can Alpha wolf, Rafe Maccon, survive his mate’s pregnancy?

  Synopsis:

  Charley is adapting to married life in her new home with her husband, Alpha Wolf Rafe Maccon, and the eight Wolf Guards who live with them. Learning the rules to this new supernatural world isn’t always easy, especially when she finds herself pregnant after just a few months of marriage.

  Rafe Maccon never had anyone of his own before. He is determined to love, cherish, and most of all, protect his bride. His mated Wolf instincts go into overdrive once he discovers Charley is pregnant!

  Will Charley cave to Rafe’s demands or will this Alpha learn the meaning of compromise?

  PROLOGUE

  Six weeks after their wedding…

  “We’re having a baby, Rafe!”

  Rafe Maccon could not believe his ears. His petite wife with her long curly hair hanging down her back emerged from their private bathroom with a small plastic stick in her hand. She was positively glowing in her simple cotton nightgown.

  Understanding slowly dawned on the Alpha Wolf and he dropped the glass of water he’d been drinking. Rafe ran to his mate and lifted her gently off the ground! Pregnant! He cradled her to his chest and kissed her temple.

  “A baby? Carlotta, you are something else, my love,” pride and joy mixed with terror and worry as he held her.

  “Isn’t it great?” She laughed and kissed him enthusiastically.

  Rafe nodded, but his heart was pounding inside his chest. Pregnancies were not easy for Werewolves. Charley was a normal, but her baby was his and sometimes things went wrong. There was also the problem that Rafe had had a lousy father and he wasn’t quite sure he was ready to be one.

  He smiled at her physical cues, but he had no idea what his wife was saying. She was gushing on and on about baby names and furniture. She was happy. And he was being a dick.

  He sat down with his mate on his lap. His Wolf right at the front of his mind as he tried to focus. He listened patiently and tried to remain attentive, but his brain was churning with every possible scenario.

  “I’ll call one of our Pack physicians to come to the manor tomorrow morning. You’ve met Rayne Davis before, right?”

  “Sure, at the Christmas ball. And I think your sister mentioned her,” Charley sighed against him and nuzzled his neck basking in the joy of becoming a mother for the first time.

  Normally, the Alpha would take that as a cue that his mate wanted him, but he needed to be gentle with her. Absolutely no sex until the doctor gave the okay. And maybe not even then.

  He would do everything he could to protect his mate and their young. Even if that meant abstaining from her sweet touch. God, help him.

  “Oh Rafe, I’m so happy! We are going to be great parents,” she sighed and snuggled closer.

  He wished he could share in her confidence. Not that he doubted his feisty wife would be an amazing mother. She was perfect, but Rafe had very little affection during his childhood. He didn’t know if he had it in him to be a dad. One thing was certain, he’d take care of his own. That much, he could do.

  “I love you, Carlotta. I’ll protect both of you, I swear it.”

  CHAPTER 1

  Early fall…

  “Seven months!” Charley huffed as she climbed the stairs to her bedroom with her sister-in-law, Cat Maccon Nighthawk. She followed behind Charley and insisted on carrying her purchases for her.

  The two women spent the afternoon at the mall and Charley had gone a little overboard. She couldn’t help it. Retail therapy was sometimes a cure for the blues, but not today.

  Being with Cat, and looking into her ice blue eyes, had only reminded Charley of Rafe. Though, where Cat was a tall, willowy blonde, Rafe was big as a house and had jet black hair and lashes. She was so hormonal lately she wanted to laugh, cry, and throw something all at once.

  Charley was beyond frustrated with her big, gorgeous husband. The jerk refused to touch her! Even though Dr. Davis had given them the okay months ago! On top of that, her ankles were swollen, her stomach was huge, and her back was killing her after being on her feet all day.

  “Charley, maybe he’s just scared,” Cat began as they entered the master bedroom.

  “No way! He’s the Alpha, Cat. He eats bad guys for breakfast! It’s me, he finds me repulsive,” she teared up at the last few words she spoke.

  It was the only reason she could think of that made sense. Rafe couldn’t stand how big she’d become. She looked down at her enormous belly as she moved to the bed she shared with her husband.

  Well, used to share with him, she thought sadly. It had been months since he’d slept with her. Of course, he blamed it on work, Being the Alpha was not an easy job and he’d been busy tracking their elusive enemy, the rogue Wolf, Skoll. Not to mention, the search for Rafe’s and Cat’s mother, who he’d recently discovered was still alive, was ongoing.

  “He doesn’t even sleep in here anymore, Cat. Sometimes, I feel like we’re not married at all.”

  “What? That’s not like him to leave you alone,” she looked concerned as she put down the bags and moved to sit next to Charley.

  “
Oh, I’m not alone. Every single night, one of the other Guards is outside my door. Keeping watch. I feel like the whole damn house knows every time I get up to pee. Which is very, very often.”

  Charley sighed. Her tall, beautiful sister-in-law put a toned arm around her back and gave her a squeeze. They’d become such good friends that Charley felt like she could tell her anything. She was really crying now and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

  Finding Rafe had been like a dream come true for her. Well, once you got past the whole kidnapping thing at the beginning of their relationship. She smiled through tears as she recalled that night.

  She’d been waiting at a bus stop, on her way to a blind date that she was actually dreading, when a van pulled up next to her. Before she knew what was happening, she was grabbed from behind and basically kidnapped to the Jersey Shore.

  It seemed her husband’s idiotic though well-meaning Wolf Guard had taken it upon themselves to find him a mate. And, lucky for her, Charley had been picked. She’d been instantly attracted to the big, gorgeous Werewolf who would later be her husband.

  He seemed to like her too. After a whirlwind romance, the two of them married and forged a matebond. Charley had been told that matebonding was a rarity among Werewolves. The stuff of legends.

  All she knew was, she’d given her heart to Rafe and he’d given her a home. It was like some modern-day fairy tale. She never thought she would doubt his love, especially after she told him she was pregnant.

  He seemed to be just as ecstatic as she was. He’d been worried about intimacy in the beginning, and she had calmly accepted that. But after the doctor had given them the okay, well, she’d expected them to resume the physical side of their relationship. Only, they hadn’t. Rafe hadn’t touched her sexually in months. And it was starting to take its toll.

  “Charley, honey, I am sure he’s just got a lot on his mind. We didn’t have a great dad, you know, maybe he’s nervous about becoming a father.”

  “You think? I mean, I know that I never knew Zev Maccon, but from what I hear, Rafe is nothing like him,” Charley wiped her nose with a tissue and looked at Cat.

  “Well, that’s true, but still, his fear could be real. Why don’t you talk to him about it?”

  “I would, but I hardly see him anymore.”

  “He’s in his office right now, Tate texted me he’d left him there a little while ago. He mentioned that Rafe looked exhausted,” Cat looked at Charley with amusement in her big blue eyes. She was a true beauty, her sister-in-law, and as far as Charley knew, she just might be right about her husband.

  Charley said goodbye to Cat and put away all her shopping before stepping into the shower. She wanted to be fresh and clean before she went to her husband. It was almost eight o’clock by the time she was finished.

  She donned a long, cotton nightgown with a matching robe and brushed her long hair out with a wide comb until it curled softly over her shoulders and back. She’d been letting it grow for months now. Rafe loved her hair. At least, he always had.

  Seff McAllister was sitting in a chair reading a thick book when she opened the bedroom door. His ready smile told her he’d heard her coming as he quickly rose to his feet. The Pack Beta was unassuming in his appearance, but he had a ferocity she’d only heard about.

  “Going to find our fearless leader?” he asked.

  “Yes. You can go to your own room now, Seff. Thank you.”

  “Alright then, but you tell him you sent me away or else I’ll never hear the end of it.”

  “You got it,” she said and smiled.

  She couldn’t believe how nervous she felt. She used to share everything with Rafe, but the distance between them was growing every single day they were apart.

  She had to stop it. To save her marriage

  CHAPTER 2

  Charley walked barefoot down the long corridor to Rafe’s office. She smiled to herself. The room held fond memories for her. They’d been married in there and, afterwards, they’d made love on the desk. Since then, they’d had several similar interludes just as passionate in that room and others. Just not lately.

  She opened the door quietly and noticed her husband’s form immediately. His back was to her and he was sitting in the big recliner near the fireplace. It was early fall, too warm for a fire yet, but it was still pretty to look at.

  “Rafe?” she called, but when she walked to face him she realized, he was asleep.

  He looked so tired. She felt guilty for all her earlier complaints. Whatever her husband was, he worked hard to ensure the health and safety of his entire Pack. He had so much responsibility and she’d been thinking only of herself.

  She rubbed her belly and sighed. Well, maybe she could join him? She’d learned early in their relationship that Rafe was very strong, even for a Werewolf. She knew she wouldn’t hurt him by climbing onto his lap and, so she did.

  His familiar scent filled her nostrils. Christmas trees and fresh cut grass. He always smelled earthy and clean to her. She loved it. Fact was she missed the way his scent would remain all over her after they made love. She missed him.

  She curled closer to him smoothing her hands over the hard muscles of his chest. His arms came up around her instinctively. He groaned and flexed his hips and Charley felt the long, hard length of him against her backside. She moaned and leaned back.

  “Carlotta,” his whisper was sweet and low. Charley trembled as his hands found her thighs and parted them.

  She felt his tongue trace her earlobe and neck as he adjusted them so that she sat facing the same direction as him. He lifted her nightgown and robe, her bare bottom was flush against him. He kissed, licked and nibbled while he freed himself from the confines of his pants.

  Charley gasped as he entered her with a single perfect thrust. He held her by her hip with one hand and her throat with the other, gently moving them both until it was almost too much for her to take.

  “Oh God, Carlotta!” He groaned as he pumped one last final time and Charley could hardly reply caught in the magic of her own completion.

  He exhaled roughly against the back of her head then he seemed to realize what he’d done. His hands came around to her swollen belly and he cursed roughly under his breath. He pushed her to a standing position and he jumped up.

  “What? How?”

  Charley smiled and moved to go to him, but he held her at arm’s length.

  “Carlotta, we just, but the baby, and I thought it was a dream, are you hurt? How do you feel?”

  “Rafe, calm down, I am fine. Well, I was, until I found out you had no idea you were actually having sex with me, I know I repulse you now, and-” tears pricked her eyes and she pulled her robe tight around her huge belly.

  “No, that’s not true, I love you, Carlotta! You’re beautiful, baby.”

  “Oh please, you think you have to say that to me, but you won’t touch me, and you won’t sleep with me and I know you think I’m ugly now,” she was crying in earnest, but she couldn’t help it.

  Months of getting the cold shoulder from him had hurt her inside. He dropped to his knees in front of her. His hands on her belly and then holding her hands when she tried to pull away.

  “Listen to me, please, I am sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’ve just been worried-”

  “You’ve been worried? I’m the one who’s pregnant, you jerk! And you made me sleep alone for months!”

  “But I placed a Guard outside your door!”

  “Oh yeah, so when I want to be held or need my feet rubbed, I should ask Seff or Kurt or Dib?”

  “You do that, and I’ll break their necks!” he answered through tight lips and Charley’s heart thumped in his chest. He was jealous! Good.

  “Oh, now you’re jealous! Great! Just, ugh, move out of my way Rafe or I swear!”

  “I’m sorry. Please, don’t get upset. It’s not good for the baby. Come on, if you want to sleep with me I’ll come to bed, but until we see the doctor again, no more sex, okay?” />
  “Fine,” Charley was quiet as she followed him out into the hallway.

  The momentary bliss she’d felt in his arms vanished the second she’d realized he hadn’t meant to touch her. She knew he loved her, but she was afraid for their future. How long would he keep her at bay?

  CHAPTER 3

  Dr. Rayne Davis was a smallish brunette with large hazel eyes and a wonderful bedside manner. She was a Werewolf and one of the Pack’s top physicians. She replaced the ultrasound wand and wiped the jelly off Charley’s exposed stomach with a tissue.

  “Well?” Rafe’s face was grim with worry. He’d been turning himself inside out with thoughts that something he’d done would harm his son or daughter. They’d decided early on to keep the sex a surprise.

  Charley had thought it was because he was old fashioned. He didn’t have the heart to tell her it was because, unfortunately, so many supernatural young didn’t survive birth. She was so beautiful, his mate, swollen with his child. He could kick himself for making her think he didn’t want her.

  Hell, he couldn’t stop himself from touching her if he tried, but he’d been told by older Wolves all his life that sex wasn’t a good idea when your wife was pregnant. It could hurt the baby. That was why he started sleeping in his office. And she thought he wanted it that way!

  He’d have to make it up to her. After the baby was born, and both mother and child were safe, he’d show her just how much he wanted her. Always.

  He just needed them protected. His Wolf growled at the thought that they could be harmed. He had to work to reign in his beast.

  Now that the Curse of St. Natalis, the one that had kept Werewolves from their beasts on all nights save the full moon for thousands of years, was just about broken, Werewolves had to learn all over again how to control their Wolves full time.