“How are my kits doing?” he rumbles.
“Eager to greet the world,” I grouse as I sit up, wincing at the pain in my lower back. “How was Mentep today when you did your rounds through the village?”
This was our son’s first trip out with his father. At six seasons, he passed the first ceremonial transition into the next stage. He’s at the age where kits start apprenticing with their parents or discovering their passions for what they desire to do to contribute to the tribe. Mentep is an eager learner and a natural leader if I ever saw one. Though he’s larger than the other kits his age, he’s careful and considerate with them, showing affection for members of the tribe that knows no bounds.
He is without a doubt well-loved. Not only are warriors within the tribe happy to share with him and teach him what they know, many females have taken to acting as mothers toward him. At first, it was hard to stem my jealousy, but after a while I noticed this is just the way females in the tribe are—loving and motherly toward all the kits. After that, I opened myself more to embracing the other kits, to the pleasure and delight of the other females. My den is now often a center of chaos from kits running in and out in their play.
“He did well,” Arawl says approvingly. “He definitely has your patience and inquisitiveness, my mate.”
“Would you have expected anything less?” I laugh.
“He did accidentally set a bush on fire, which made him cry,” Arawl continued and I sobered up at once. While the magic I absorbed from the elf hadn’t harmed him, he showed signs of raw power early on. There have been many times when it has startled or scared him.
“Is he okay?” I ask with concern, my eyes searching out my kit.
My mate smooths a hand over my jaw and turns me to face him. The corners of his mouth are upturned into a smile and his beautiful eyes are soft as he peers down at me.
“He is fine. He immediately pulled up a shower storm and soaked that spot—and half of the village, I might add. He is learning. We then had a long talk about the responsibilities that come with power... not only in terms of his magic but in being an alpha. He worries about hurting his siblings, but I believe I have settled his fears. He has never hurt anyone he loves.”
“He’s quite eager to meet them,” I agree. I smile as my son comes raising toward me with a handful of flowers.
“Look, Momma, I have flowers for you!” he shouts.
“Ah, first flowers of the spring! How wonderful. Thank you!” I draw him in to nuzzle him as he laughs and wiggles until he can escape.
“Gonna find more!” he shouts as he takes off like an arrow, his brilliant white fur blazing. He definitely inherited that from his father, while he has my dark eyes that tend to get a strange reddish cast to them in low lighting. It unnerved me the first time I saw it until I realized that it was perfectly normal for his eye-coloring.
I sigh as my mate crouches behind me, his hands running over my belly as he nuzzles my neck. “Don’t start anything you can’t finish,” I threaten.
He chuckles. “There is never a risk of me not finishing.”
I giggle and snuggle into him, listening to his heartbeat. Although I have a lot of responsibilities as the mate of an alpha, I enjoy them all. I’m happier than I’ve ever been. For a moment, I think back to my life, when having a family was only a sad, disappointing dream.
I have everything that I ever dreamed of... and more.
I turn in Arawl’s embrace. “Do you think Vrox will mind if we disappear for a moment?” I whisper suggestively, and my mate growls with lust before leaping to his feet to hunt down the other male, my happy laughter following behind him.
Other Works by S.J. Sanders
The Mate Index
First Contact
The VaDorok
Hearts of Indesh (Valentine Novella)
The Edoka’s Destiny
The Vori’s Mate
Eliza’s Miracle (Novella)
A Kiss on Kaidava
The Vori’s Secret
A Mate for Oigr (Halloween Novella)
Heart of the Agraak
A Gift for Medif
Monsterly Yours
The Orc Wife
The Troll Bride
The Accidental Werewolf’s Mate
Sci-Fi Fairytales
Red: A Dystopian World Alien Romance
Ragoru Beginnings Romance
White: Emala’s Story
Dark Spirits
Havoc of Souls
The Mirror (also part of Mischief Matchmakers)
Shadowed Dreams Erotica
The Lantern
Serpent of the Abyss
About the Author
S.J. Sanders is a writer of Science Fiction and Fantasy Romance. With a love of all things alien and monster she is fascinated with concepts of far off worlds, as well as the lore and legends of various cultures. When not writing, she loves reading, sculpting, painting and travel (especially to exotic destinations). Although born and raised in Alaska, she currently as a resident of Florida with her family and pet lizard.
Readers can follow her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authorsjsanders
Or join her Facebook group S.J. Sanders Unusual Playhouse
https://www.facebook.com/groups/361374411254067/
Website: https://sjsandersromance.wordpress.com/
The Accidental Werewolf's Mate: A Monsterly Yours Romance (Monstery Yours Book 3) Page 23