Claiming Her Mate

by Jess Buffett

  “A dream? Like...a vision?” Summer asked sceptically.

  “Yes, like a vision.” Ruth raised a brow. “Do not tell me you haven’t noticed your littermate's unusual ability to know things she shouldn’t?”

  “Well…” Summer bit down on her lip, eyes darting to Evan then back to Ruth. “We’ve talked about it, but nothing serious, you know? Are you saying Ella is a Seer, like you?”

  “That remains to be seen, but she is something unique. More important though, was her dream. She saw you both in danger, she couldn’t tell where you were or who you were with, but it was dense bush area.”

  “That could be anywhere.” Fear skittered down Evan’s spine. It was all well and good to know that something was coming, but he needed to know more. “Have you had this vision? Do you know where, or at least when?”

  “Young man, demanding answers I cannot give you will get us nowhere,” Ruth chastised.

  Evan grunted. “I’m sorry, Ruth, but surely you understand the frustration I must feel.”

  “I do, and I’m hoping to alleviate some on that by answering some of your simpler questions like who you really are and what you can do.”

  He peered at her curiously. “And who am I?”

  “You are a descendant to one of the most powerful witches the earth has ever seen,” the Seer stated.

  “Seriously?” He'd not been expecting that.

  “Gaia was revered, loved and worshiped. She was the mother of all witches. She could not only manipulate electricity in its rawest form, but nature itself. Human and shifter DNA had slowly diluted the powerful blood, to the point where no abilities were evident in either your mother, sister, or yourself. However, Summer’s White Tiger DNA, so rare and powerful, has awakened the part of you that slept.”

  Evan gaped at the woman. Powers? Him? “So, I’ll have abilities? Like the bolt I shot out tonight at Sean?”

  “You will be capable of doing much more than that.” Ruth chuckled. “Given your ancestor, it is possible you and your children will not be limited by one type of ability, but be able to possess them all. At least, I know your children will...if they survive.”

  Evan stiffened. “What do you mean?”

  “The prophesy, Evan.” The older woman pinned him with a look so ominous he shivered. “You know about it, it is real. There are those out there who will do anything to stop your children from being born, from fulfilling their destinies.”

  “How are we supposed to fight that?” Summer sighed, raking fingers through her long, chocolate brown hair.

  “You will. Because there is no greater power than a parent's love for their child.” Ruth took Summer’s hand in hers, comforting scared Summer. “I’m sorry I cannot offer more, but that is what I have for you...at least for now.”

  “Thank you, Ruth.”

  Evan followed as Ruth stood, making her way to the door. “You are most welcome, my dear.”

  He growled as he tripped over Ally again. “Oh, for God’s sake, Ally. Out of the way.”

  Ruth snickered. “I see you are bonding well with your familiar. Be mindful of how important she is to you.”

  “Yeah, I keep hearing that,” he grumbled. “But I don’t think I have to worry about someone going after her to get to me. She keeps this up, I’ll fall over her and end up breaking my damn neck.”

  Summer and Ruth both laughed, and while it annoyed him, he saw the amusement there.

  Ruth turned as she reached the front door. “Oh, one more thing before I leave…”

  “Yes,” he asked warily.

  “About your incident the other night.”

  Evan bristled. “She was attacked, it was more than a simple incident.”

  “Yes, I agree.” Ruth nodded in agreement. “While there are those who would stop at nothing to stop your children from being born, there are also those who would do even more to be a part of such a prophesy. Something for you to think on. Hmmm?”

  Summer’s eyes were glued to the door, and Evan noticed she flinched as it clicked shut.

  “Summer?” When she didn’t answer, he grew more concerned. Her skin was unusually pale, and her breathing came quickly. “Honey?”

  “That’s why he drugged me,” she whispered abruptly.

  “Why?” Evan had no idea what Summer was saying, and he feared maybe she was in some kind of shock. It wouldn’t surprise him after everything she had been through and discovered in the last twenty-four hours. Hell, if he weren’t so concerned for Summer, he’d join her.

  “He wanted to be a part of the prophesy, don’t you see? If I carried his child then it would be his children in the prophesy, or maybe even…”

  “Even what?” Dread filled him, he didn’t like where her train of thought was going.

  “Or even void the prophesy, because a child between Brad and I would be nowhere near as powerful as ours.”

  “Fuck!” Summer was right, he could feel it.

  Evan held her tight, unwilling to let her go. Thoughts and possibilities swirled through his mind, one more disturbing than the next. Bradley was the true kind of monster, and just the thought of the man getting his hands on Summer again nearly sent him into a fit of rage. Evan knew then he was going to have a hell of a time protecting the woman he loved, but he’d die trying if need be.

  Chapter Seven

  Two weeks passed without word and Evan grew more anxious and frustrated by the minute. While the time he had spent with his mate had been unbelievable, causing him to be happier than he ever had in his life, the thought of multiple threats to Summer out there had him on edge.

  That morning he had awoken after the worst night sleep. In a foul mood, he stomped to the bathroom not waiting for Summer like he had done every other morning, even after he had gone back to work.

  At least that thought made him chuckle. Summer had been true to her word when she had said he would need to take some time off. The tigress had been near insatiable for days after they had mated.

  “Should I be worried?” He felt the air stir behind him as his mate slipped into the shower, her soft, smooth skin rubbing up against his body. “I woke up alone this morning.”

  Enjoying the contact, he turned, slipping an arm around her waist. “Not at all. I just woke in a bad mood and didn’t want you to see it.”

  Her smile was so bright it lightened up the dark cloud that had settled over him. “Oh, I’ve seen your bad mood before. In fact, I’ve seen every mood now. None of them are going to scare me off. But maybe you could tell me what's wrong and I could help?”

  He sighed, burying his head in the crook of her neck and shoulder. “Just feeling a little helpless I guess.”

  Her delicate, soft hands came up to thread through the short strands of his hair. “I know. It’s hard for me too. But let’s focus on the positive. And besides, you have more things to be worried about.”

  He could hear the smirk in her voice and was hard-pressed to suppress his own. “Why is that?”

  “Because...tonight is the full moon gathering.” She tugged on his hair to bring his head up. “You have to face the entire Pride as I officially present you as my mate.”

  Oh, crap. He’d forgotten about that. “Ah, yay?”

  Summer threw her head back and laughed. “Oh, yes, that was very convincing. How about we try it one more time without it sounding like a question.”

  Evan grunted, swooping down to capture her lips with his, silencing any further remarks. One thing he had certainly learned over the last two weeks, was that Summer was a smartarse. And God, how he loved it. His life had been so serious, so routine for so long. She was just what he needed.

  Breaking the kiss, he reluctantly pulled away. “Have to hurry. Can’t be late again, especially if I want to finish up early for tonight.”

  Summer pouted. “All right, but you better make it up to me after the gathering.”

  “Absolutely,” he promised, dropping another kiss to her lips.

  ****

  Heading to
work, with his foul mood completely replaced, Evan walked through the doors of the building his law firm resided in. As he passed the main desk's receptionist, he was stopped by the overly, perky assistant, Olivia.

  “Oh, Mr MacKenzie?” she called, a smile on her round face.

  A sweet, older woman, Olivia was human just like Evan and also knew all about the shifters. In fact, she was mated to one. “Yes, Olivia?”

  “I was looking into Bradley’s past like you had asked, and I found something odd that might interest you.”

  He cocked a brow. “Oh?”

  Olivia nodded. “It seems there are no records of a Bradley Nichols anywhere before he turned up in New Hope Valley. I’m not sure how such a mistake happened, or how he ended up in the Pride if that’s the case, but he’s a ghost.”

  Evan reached for the paper Olivia held out. The forms confirmed that Bradley Nichols didn’t exist on paper before three years ago when he came to their town. What the hell?

  “Thanks for this. Let me know if you find anything else.”

  “Will do, boss.” She nodded. Just before he was about to turn and leave, she added, “Oh, and I never got a chance to say, congratulations on your mating. Summer is a beautiful young woman. You’ll find many perks to being mated.”

  The tiny smirk on her lips had him blushing, no doubt in his mind she was referring to their insatiable appetite in bed. “Oh, I’ve worked that one out.”

  He heard the woman chuckling as he headed for the lift. As the doors slid closed, Evan pondered more on the mystery that was Bradley. And that’s when it hit him. “Holy shit!” he yelled aloud.

  Impatient to track down his new in-laws, he slipped through the doors as soon as they opened, not stopping until he reached Richard’s office. Barely pausing long enough to knock, he pushed open the door to the man’s office, drawing up short when he found Sage sitting opposite his father. The pair seemed to have been in deep discussion.

  “Evan?” Richard asked, clearly surprised at his sudden entrance. “Is everything okay? Summer?”

  “Yes, yes. Well, Summer is okay, but I think I worked something out. And it’s good that you’re here Sage because you need to hear this too,” he babbled.

  “Whoa,” Sage chuckled. “I’ve never seen you like this. What has your panties in a bunch?”

  “Bradley,” he stated.

  Both men tensed, growls erupting from their chests.

  “What about him? Have you seen him?” Sage shot out of his seat, claws already flicking out.

  He rolled his eyes. “No. Do you really think I’d take my time in coming here if I had? A phone call works just as well.”

  “Then what,” Richard asked more patiently.

  “I just spoke to Olivia from downstairs. I had her looking into Bradley, asked her to see what she could find.”

  “What did she find?” Richard asked, leaning forward in his chair and resting his arms on the desk in front of him.

  “Nothing.”

  Sage frowned. “I don’t get it, wouldn’t nothing be a bad thing.”

  Evan let out a painful sigh. “If you’d let me finish, I’d tell you. Listen. There was no Bradley Nichols before he became a part of this Pride. Somehow he slipped under the radar. Whoever he is, that is not his real name.”

  “How does this help?”

  “I’ve been trying to find a connection between Bradley and the neighboring Pride. You said it yourself there had to be a connection for Bradley to be so willing to head to their side of the border. He could have gone anyway, he had the head start, yet he went there, but why?”

  “Because he was familiar with them. Maybe even a part of them. Shit,” Sage cursed up a storm. “He’s been here, right under our noses this whole time. Who knows how much he has told Aidan already.”

  “That still doesn’t explain his attack on Summer, son.” Richard had a point.

  “True, but it’s a start, right?”

  Sage nodded slowly. “You’re right.”

  Stunned that Sage had actually agreed with him, it took Evan a moment to respond. “Ah, thanks.”

  “Don’t look so surprised,” Sage laughed, grinning at him. “I’m not that much of a hardarse.”

  “Really?” he asked, unconvinced.

  "Really.” The Alpha stood, walking over to him and slapping him on the back. “I’m the Alpha, and I have to act tough, but I also caught you after having slept with my baby sister. What kind of response did you think you were going to get from me at first?”

  An honest question, and Evan felt himself finally relaxing around his mate’s older brother. “Fair enough.”

  “Well, if you two boys are done bonding...we have work to do.” Richard’s lips quirked up into a small smile as he ushered them out the door.

  Taking a few steps toward his office, he was stopped by a hand on his arm. Glancing back at Sage, he frowned. “What’s wrong?”

  The other man grimaced. “Mum is with Summer today, but until we catch this bastard, we can’t let her out of our sight.

  “I know.” Evan nodded. “I won’t.”

  Sage shrugged. “Yeah, I know. But she’s the baby.”

  He got it. Evan had been just as protective of Amber. “I get it.”

  “Yeah, I know that too.” Sage gave him a nod then left.

  Damn. Did he really just have a simple, understanding conversation with Sage Ashcroft? Maybe he should check, because hell must have frozen over.

  Chapter Eight

  “So tell me what’s it like to be mated?” Avery inquired, studying her nails as she leaned up against one of the trees near the edge of Sage’s property.

  Summer smiled at her best friend, unable to control her blush. The woman had been prying as many details as possible out of her since she had introduced Avery to Evan at the Pride meeting. “Fantastic. I never thought I could be this happy, you know?”

  “No, not really...kinda why I was asking,” Avery drawled, rolling her eyes.

  Summer loved the woman dearly, had been friends with her since they were five, but Avery was also a smartarse.

  “Oh Lord, don’t get her started,” Chase snickered as he walked passed them. “She is hopelessly in love and all doe-eyed, and I currently suffer from Althaiophobia.”

  “Hey.” Summer stuck her tongue out at her littermate. “Watch it, doofus.”

  “Or what, brat?” Chase grinned.

  “Althop-say what?” Avery stuttered, eyeing Chase warily. “Do I even want to know?”

  “Althaiophobia. An intense fear of marshmallows.” Summer shared a look with Avery, seeing the other woman just as confused as she was.

  “Come again?” Summer asked hesitantly.

  “Oh for God’s sake, how do you not get that?” Chase sighed, rolling his eyes. “Marshmallows are all sweet and mushy...just like you every time you talk about Evan. And honestly, I can’t take it anymore. Seriously. I swear I am having a physical reaction each time you get all mushy. And Evan. He is just as bad. Can’t get any work done without hearing him go on and on about how wonderful mated life is.”

  “Really?” Summer’s heart lightened at the knowledge.

  “Oh damn and here we go again. I’m outta here before she starts singing the ultimate love song melody,” Chase baited before he made a hasty retreat.

  Summer watched her littermate leave, the jovial shifter making his way through the crowd, greeting the rest of the Pride. At times she wondered what it was that her brother was hiding underneath all of the snark and humour. Almost as if he used it as a shield, Chase never failed to crack a joke when situations seemed serious. She chuckled, thinking whoever his mate was, would certainly have their hands full with him.

  Things became quiet between her and Avery, the silence causing Summer to glance over at the other woman. From the covert looks and the hesitation playing on her features, Summer could tell her friend was debating on whether or not to bring something up. Which concerned Summer because Avery was never one to really hol
d back, much like Chase.

  When Summer could no longer wait any longer, she sighed. “Oh, just spit it out already.”

  “Spit what out?” Avery tried for innocence, but as usual, it fell flat.

  “Whatever has your mind going a hundred miles per hour.”

  Avery sighed. “Just wondering, is all...”

  She peered at Avery. “Again, and slightly more frustrated this time, I ask what?”

  Avery gave her a sideways look. “Do you know your scent has changed?”

  Summer frowned. “It has?”

  “Yep.” Avery nibbled on her bottom lip, turning to face Summer fully. “You’re pregnant, hun.”

  Summer sucked in a breath. She had suspected, but hadn’t been sure. With the mating heat, her family and friends had been kind enough to give them space, and until now, no one but Evan had been in her presence long enough to be able to tell. “Crap.”

  “Crap? I’m guessing Evan doesn’t know?”

  Summer gave a half-hearted shrug. “I didn’t even really know until just now. There was only the one time we didn’t use protection. One of those in the heat of the moment kind of things. We knew there might be a chance, but…”

  “Well, congratulations, hun.” Avery waggled her brows. “You’re knocked up.”

  She threw her head back, laughing at Avery’s tactlessness. No matter how serious things got, Avery could always defuse the situation.

  “Honestly though, I’m happy for you, hun.” Summer turned to Avery, surprised by her serious tone. “I was worried. I saw you slipping. I didn’t even want to think what would happen to you if Evan actually started dating someone. I felt like I was losing my best friend.”

  The sadness in Avery’s eyes broke her heart. Summer hadn’t realized what she had been putting her through. “I’m sorry.”

  Avery chuckled, shaking off her mood. “Don’t be sorry. Be happy.”

  “I am,” Summer assured her, staring over the land in front of her. The open space spread out before them and between the gorgeous snowy mountains looked particularly beautiful that night. Summer drew in a breath, reveling in the crisp smell of the land and the scent of her mate nearby. It was a powerful and heady combination.