by Zoe Chant
She was wearing a flowing dress that made her look like a mermaid who’d just stepped out of the waves. Her hair was held off her face in a tumble of glossy curls. But it was her eyes that shone the brightest as she took in Arlo in his scratchy suit, the four children gathered around, and the covered table behind them.
“What’s going on?” she asked, her lips curving into a smile. “Dylan, you said you had a surprise to show me before the party at Caro’s?”
She was talking to Dylan, who’d led her in, but her eyes were locked on to Arlo’s. He swallowed. Kenna pushed something back into his hands: a small box.
Eric cleared his throat. “We’re going to head to Caro’s soon. But first…”
They were standing on what would one day be the living room of their pack’s home. Right now, it was more like a deck overlooking the water, with tarp-covered stud walls outlining where the walls and doors would one day be. Eric nodded to Kenna and they each expertly flicked the tarps away, revealing strings of glittering fairy lights wound around and between them.
Jacqueline gasped and Arlo’s heart swelled. The kids had all made huge strides in their control of their telepathic abilities, but they couldn’t keep their pride from leaking out as they watched Jacqueline take in their decorations. They had turned the work site into a magical grotto.
“This is amazing,” Jacqueline breathed.
“We’re going to head off now.” Kenna tossed her head and sent Arlo a telepathic command so brusque and no-nonsense that he couldn’t help a sudden bark of laughter. “The Menzies are doing a big sleepover after the party so we’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
She hugged Jacqueline and gestured for the others to all do the same. Arlo waited as Jacqueline hugged them all goodnight. She picked Tally up for a cuddle and a kiss, before handing her to Kenna.
Jacqueline raised her eyebrows at Arlo as the kids headed back to the main road to walk to the restaurant. “What did Kenna say to you?”
“You noticed that?” Arlo rubbed the back of his neck.
“I’m getting better at picking up on it, I think.” Jacqueline slipped up to him and kissed him gently on the lips. Arlo’s whole body thrilled.
“I’ll tell you after,” he promised.
“After…?” Jacqueline was practically glowing. Arlo gestured to the table.
“Dinner?”
He held out a chair for her. She sat down, a smile dancing around her lips. When he whipped the cloth off the table, she laughed with delight.
“Since you missed out the first time,” Arlo said gruffly.
Dylan had timed Jacqueline’s arrival perfectly; the delicate fish and fresh bread were still steaming, making small beads of moisture appear on the chilled bottle of wine. Arlo sat down opposite Jacqueline, hiding the box in his lap.
“Is this what you were doing out on the boat this morning?” Jacqueline asked as he filled her glass.
“Some of it.”
“Ooh. Color me intrigued.” Jacqueline flashed him a smile that made his skin thrill.
Arlo cut her a slice of bread and buttered it. The butter melted into the warm bread almost immediately. He felt Jacqueline’s eyes on him as he added fish to her plate and handed it back to her.
“Thanks,” she whispered, her voice warm. “Oh, my God, this is delicious.”
“I wasn’t going to steal you away from Caro’s summer barbeque for bad cooking,” Arlo pointed out.
“Good. Mmm. I can see why Tally hoovered her way through all of mine that first night.”
Arlo watched Jacqueline eat. His heart felt so full, there wasn’t room for it in his chest.
How did I get this lucky? he asked himself as they ate, savoring every bite.
“Dessert,” he said next. Tess had delivered a batch of specially made ice cream earlier in the afternoon. He pulled it out of the cooler now and Jacqueline cocked one eyebrow.
“From Tess? Should I be worried?”
“She promised no experiments.”
Jacqueline closed her eyes as she tasted the ice cream. “Oh!”
Arlo’s skin warmed. “Good oh?”
“Yes.” Jacqueline opened her eyes and gazed at him. “Here.”
She held her spoon to Arlo’s lips. He tasted it, not breaking eye contact with her.
“It’s the same as the chocolates we had on our first date. Do you remember?”
Thank you, Tess. Arlo sipped his wine.
“I am sensing a theme,” Jacqueline said cautiously, her eyes sparkling.
“Don’t worry. I haven’t arranged for Tally to start screaming in the distance,” Arlo joked.
“Thank God.”
Arlo let himself sink into Jacqueline’s smile. He’d never imagined that having a mate would be like this. Thrilling and easy at the same time.
It was hard for him to think back to what his life had been like before Jacqueline and their pack were in it, but he had to.
“I’ve been so busy with the house, I haven’t been out fishing since the day I met you,” he said. “I was miserable then. I didn’t even know why. I thought I knew how the world worked and how I fit into it, and everything I learned that told me otherwise hurt. I couldn’t even admit to myself what the Sweets were really like.”
“Arlo—” Jacqueline reached across the table to take his hand. Arlo folded his fingers around hers.
“And then I met you. And everything I thought I knew about the world and how I fit into it turned completely on my head. But it didn’t hurt anymore. I finally understood what my own soul had been telling me.”
He wrapped both his hands around hers. “Love is more important than fear. Openheartedness is more powerful than defensiveness. I was so scared of losing what I thought was my pack, I didn’t realize they weren’t my pack. You saved me from that. You showed me what love really is.”
He took one of his hands away with hers and fumbled with the small box.
“You’re the heart of this pack, Jacqueline.” He kneeled down on one knee and Jacqueline gasped. “You’ve thrown yourself into this world with so much courage and so much love it takes my breath away.”
“You’re the strong one,” Jacqueline protested. “You saved my life. You stood up to your parents…”
“I couldn’t have done it without you at my side. And in my heart.” He took a deep breath. “I know you’ve done this before and it hasn’t worked out. But I need you to know that I’m yours. I want to be bound to you in every way. The mate bond, our pack… and in marriage.” He opened the box. “Jacqueline March, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Jacqueline was completely still. Arlo’s heart was in his throat. Then she made a noise that was half-laughter, half-sob, and slid from her chair. “Yes! Of course!”
She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him so hard he almost dropped the ring box. He exclaimed and fumbled for it and she grabbed for it, too, laughing against his lips. At last they both had their hands around it.
“I love you,” Jacqueline whispered as he slipped the ring onto her finger. “Marrying you is the only thing I can think of to make our life even more perfect.”
Arlo pulled her close against her. They sat together, gazing at the ring in the glittering light of the fairy lights.
“It’s beautiful,” Jacqueline whispered.
“The kids helped,” Arlo said. “Eric came up with the design. Kenna and Dylan chose the stones. And Tally… Tally did a really good job of not swallowing any of the pieces, or anything else in the workshop.”
“You made it yourself?” Jacqueline cupped her hand over the ring, treasuring it. But only for a second, before she had to look at it again.
“The guys helped. And the kids. And YouTube.”
Jacqueline laughed. “It’s perfect.”
“It’s not.” Arlo’s voice was rough. “It’s—look, you can see where I slipped and took a groove out of the edge. And there’s—Tally decided she likes hammers—I think I managed to buff out most of the d
ent, but you can still see it if you know where to look…”
She kissed him and he shut up.
“Shh. It’s perfect. Dents and all.”
She held out her hand and the fairy lights shimmered on the gold band with its cluster of tiny stones. The central gemstone was a dark sapphire with glints of lighter color in its heart, like sunlight on deep water. Around it were arranged four smaller London topazes.
“It’s the pack,” she breathed.
Arlo’s heart swelled. Of course she’d understood. “Tally, Dylan, Kenna, Eric… and me,” he said. “So you can always keep us close.”
Jacqueline curled the fingers of her other hand over her ring and kissed him again. When she pulled away her eyes were shining.
With happiness, Arlo reminded himself as his heart thudded. She only cries when she’s happy.
“What did Kenna say before she left?” Jacqueline asked.
Arlo rested his forehead against hers. “That I’d better not come find them until you’d agreed to marry me.”
Jacqueline burst out laughing. “She didn’t! No, God, of course she did.” She sighed happily. “I suppose it will make things easier. Making it official, finishing the house—so we square up our little family with the authorities.”
Arlo nuzzled her, brushing his lips across the soft skin of her cheekbones. “That’s not the reason I’m doing this.”
“I know.” Jacqueline wiped her eyes. “What now? Back to Caro’s?”
Arlo paused. There was a huge celebration waiting for them at Caro’s, he was sure.
“There’s one more thing I have to show you,” he said. “On the boat.”
Jacqueline raised her eyebrows. “We’ve missed sunset again,” she pointed out.
Arlo looked up at the stars. “I know.”
He rowed Jacqueline out to the Hometide. Her eyes were soft and happy, so different to that first time they’d rowed out together.
He helped her up on board and led her down into the cabin. Everything was freshly scrubbed and oiled, and the air smelled faintly of sawdust. Arlo lay Jacqueline down on the bed and propped himself up above her.
“What’s doing that?” she asked, touching his face. Arlo raised one hand; colored lights danced over it. Jacqueline’s eyes widened as she figured it out.
She rolled over, pushing herself up on her hands and knees to look at the newly repaired port window above the bed.
“Oh, Arlo,” she breathed.
He pushed a stray curl behind her ear, letting the joy on her face wash over him.
“I figure with four kids, no matter how good our intentions, we’re going to keep missing the real sunsets,” he said, his voice rough. “But we’ll always have this one.”
He’d replaced the broken window with a stained glass picture. The sun, setting over the sea.
“I love it,” Jacqueline whispered. She rolled onto her back and pulled him down on top of her, her curves molding to his body. “And I love you.”
She kissed him, and Arlo knew: whatever happened next, every day of his life, his love for this woman would grow stronger.
A note from Zoe Chant
Thank you for buying my book! I hope you enjoyed it. If you’d like to be emailed when I release my next book, please click here to be added to my mailing list. You can also visit my webpage, or follow me on Facebook or Twitter. You are also invited to join my VIP Readers Group on Facebook!
Please consider reviewing The Sea Wolf’s Mate, even if you only write a line or two. I appreciate all reviews, whether positive or negative.
Page down to read a special sneak preview of The Griffin’s Mate—the first Hideaway Cove story!
The cover of The Sea Wolf’s Mate was designed by Marie Hodgkinson.
More Paranormal Romance by Zoe Chant
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Saved by the Billionaire Lion Shifter. (Shifter Suspense #2) A billionaire lion shifter fighting to fill the hole in his heart + a curvy reporter on an undercover assignment + an island paradise where all is not as it seems = one dangerously hot romance!
Stealing the Snow Leopard’s Heart. (Shifter Suspense #3). A stick-in-the-mud snow leopard shifter PI + an ex-thief who can’t escape her past + an adorable baby dragon who thinks they’re both part of her hoard = one sweet and sexy romance!
A Mate for the Christmas Dragon. (A Mate for Christmas #1) Jasper has five days to win his mate’s heart. Luckily, it’s Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year. Unluckily… his mate hates the holidays.
Christmas Hellhound (A Mate for Christmas #2) Can a hellhound really save Christmas?
Ranger Griffin. A lonely reporter in deadly danger + a protective griffin shifter who thinks he’s a monster + a cozy cabin in the snowy woods = one exciting and heartwarming romance!
Firefighter Dragon. (Fire & Rescue Shifters # 1). A curvy archaeologist with the find of a lifetime + a firefighter dragon shifter battling his instincts + a priceless artifact coveted by a ruthless rival = one blazing hot romance!
Trusting the Tiger. A lonely BBW who can't shift, on vacation with her shifter family + a billionaire tiger shifter looking for a family + a kidnapping plot that threatens to rip them apart = one sexy and dangerous weekend getaway!
Bear With Me. A lonely bear shifter + a workaholic conservationist + a sudden storm = one wet and wild mountain adventure!
And many more!
Zoe Chant writing as Lia Silver
Laura’s Wolf (Werewolf Marines # 1), by Lia Silver. Werewolf Marine Roy Farrell, scarred in body and mind, thinks he has no future. Curvy con artist Laura Kaplan, running from danger and her own guilt, is desperate to escape her past. Together, they have all that they need to heal.
Prisoner (Werewolf Marines # 2), by Lia Silver. Werewolf Marine DJ Torres is a born rebel. Genetically engineered assassin Echo was created to be a weapon. When DJ is captured by the agency that made Echo, the two misfits find that they fit together perfectly.
Partner (Werewolf Marines # 3), by Lia Silver. DJ and Echo’s relationship grows stronger under fire… until they are confronted by a terrible choice.
Mated to the Meerkat, by Lia Silver. Jasmine Jones, a curvy tabloid reporter, meets her match in notorious paparazzi and secret shifter Chance Marcotte.
Zoe Chant writing as Lauren Esker
Handcuffed to the Bear (Shifter Agents # 1), by Lauren Esker. A bear-shifter ex-mercenary and a curvy lynx shifter searching for her best friend's killer are handcuffed together and hunted in the wilderness. Can they learn to rely on each other before their pasts, and their pursuers, catch up with them?
Guard Wolf (Shifter Agents # 2), by Lauren Esker. Avery is a lone werewolf with no pack; Nicole is a social worker trying to put her life back together. When he comes to her door with a box of orphan werewolf puppies and danger in pursuit, can two lonely people find the family they've been missing?
Dragon’s Luck (Shifter Agents # 3) by Lauren Esker. Gecko shifter and infiltration expert Jen Cho teams up with sexy dragon-shifter gambler "Lucky" Lucado to win a high-stakes poker game. Now they're trapped on a cruise ship full of mobsters, mysterious enemy agents, and evil dragons!
Tiger in the Hot Zone (Shifter Agents # 4) by Lauren Esker. In her search for the truth about shifters, tell-all blogger Peri Moreland has been clashing with tiger shifter and SCB agent Noah Easton for years. Now she and Noah are on the run with an unstoppable assassin after them and a custom-made plague threatening the entire shifter world!
Keeping Her Pride (Ladies of the Pack # 1), by Lauren Esker. Down-and-out lioness shifter Debi Fallon never meant to fall in love with a human. Sexy architect and single dad Fletcher Briggs has his hands full with his adorable 4-year-old… who turns into a tiny, deadly snake. Can two ambitious people overcome their pride and prejudice enough to realize the only thing missing fr
om their lives is each other?
THE GRIFFIN’S MATE
SPECIAL SNEAK PREVIEW
Lainie
“Oh, no, no, no.” Lainie groaned as the car engine whined to a halt. “Please don’t die, car. I seriously don’t need this today. Not on top of everything else.”
The car’s engine, deaf to her pleas, gave one final croak and fell silent.
“Shit.”
Lainie coasted to the side of the road, coming to a stop under a worn wooden sign. In faded red script, the sign read: Hideaway Cove: Population---
The sign was so old that the number was completely worn away. Lainie sighed.
Population, one less family than there should be, she thought. Her grandparents had been the last Eaves to live in Hideaway Cove, and after her grandmother’s death one month before, that wasn’t likely to change.
Lainie tried to feel angry about it, but what was the point? She’d resigned herself to her situation years ago. Her problems weren’t going to change just because circumstances were finally forcing her to face them head-on.
Just one night, she told herself. One afternoon, one night, one morning. And then I can leave again.
She shielded her eyes from the afternoon sun and looked down the hill toward the cluster of buildings that made up Hideaway Cove.
The small coastal town in the bay below her was almost cartoonishly cute. Old Victorian-era buildings lined the wide main street, and a shallow sandy beach swept down into the sheltered cove. A small marina at the end of town nearest the highway held a handful of small fishing and leisure boats, and at the other end of the crescent-shaped bay, a hill jutted up from the waves, protecting the town from the northerly winds.
And from the top of the hill, a house built at the base of an old lighthouse stared back down at the town.
Lainie looked straight across at it. Her grandparents’ house.