by Tonya Brooks
Dane glanced at the alarm clock on the nightstand and replied, "Twenty-two hours." Then that meant… "I signed the papers and walked straight to the bar."
She laid a hand on her stomach when it roiled with nausea and asked in a shaken tone, "Do you still love her?"
"No," he answered evenly and a wry smile twisted his lips. "I never loved her the way she deserved."
Shana sank onto the edge of the bed before her knees gave out and asked, "Why not?"
"She wasn't my mate," Dane confessed as he walked across the room and dropped to one knee before her. "Giselle was a very good friend and we were both lonely, so we got married. Once she found her fated mate I let her go."
"That must have been painful," she said sympathetically and felt the nausea subsiding. Hope began to bloom in her heart again. Foolish hope that she might have a chance at having a relationship with him.
"More regret than pain," he admitted as he took her hand in his and raised it to his lips to place a kiss in her palm. "Letting her go was the right thing to do. Mates belong together. It's a sacred union and nothing should ever keep them apart."
She nodded her consent absently, more acutely aware of the tingles radiating through her arm from his touch than anything else. "I've heard about fated mates," she admitted. "It's a beautiful concept."
Those golden eyes were mesmerizing when he said, "There is nothing a shifter wouldn't do for his mate. She's the other half of his soul."
Heart in her throat, Shana asked, "How do you know? When you've found your mate?"
"I knew the moment our eyes met," he replied and she gasped in surprise. There was no doubting the sincerity in his tone or expression as Dane lifted a hand to lightly caress her cheek. "You're my fated mate, beauty."
Shock held her immobile as her brain tried to process his words. Her heart fully comprehended the meaning and was doing backflips in her chest. "I'm your mate?" She asked, half in fear and half elation.
"Without a doubt," he confirmed with the most beautiful smile she'd ever seen. "My wolf has chosen you. No other will do for either of us."
Her head was reeling and she had no idea how to respond to that, so she admitted it. "Wow. That's… overwhelming."
"Don't over think it," he suggested solemnly as he stood. Still holding her hand, Dane urged her to stand and then he removed the sheet she wore like a toga and dressed her in a bathrobe as carefully as if she were a child. Then he placed a tender kiss on her temple and said, "Breakfast is ready. Would you rather eat inside or on the balcony?"
Such a normal question in the midst of mental turmoil should have been easy, but she stared at him blankly as if he'd spoken a foreign language. "Umm… breakfast?"
He laughed softly and turned her to face the bathroom. "Go do your thing and leave the rest to me," Dane suggested before he affectionately patted her butt and left the room.
Shana just stood there staring at the empty bathroom in confusion until her receptors started firing again. Then she hurried inside and closed the door to relieve her aching bladder. That done, she moved to the sink to wash her hands and face. The image staring back at her in the mirror looked shell-shocked.
Exactly how she felt.
Because, Jesus Christ, she was Dane's fated mate?
It was unbelievable. Amazing. Too incredible to believe. A dream come true and exactly what she'd always hoped for. But… it was also terrifying. To know that she was the only woman for him was a huge burden. The responsibility really was overwhelming. Because no other woman would ever make him happy.
Wow. Just… wow!
But what if she didn't make him happy? Or if his pack hated her? What if she wasn't enough for him? She was only human after all. How could she compete with female wolf shifters? She'd met a few and they were tall gorgeous Amazons. She was petite and curvy and had no clue how to fight or hunt or… shift.
Shana swallowed hard.
Holy shit. What had she gotten herself into?
***
Dane could still smell her fear and fought to control his own panic. His wolf was demanding he calm their mate. Her fears disturbed the beast and pissed him off because he didn't know how to fight them. Neither did Dane. However, he was determined to prove to Shana that they were meant to be together.
No matter what he had to do to accomplish it.
Yeah, he possessed the same ruthless streak as his brother. The only difference was that Dane had always kept a tight leash on his whereas Reece gave his free rein. But when it came to his mate, there was no rule he wouldn't break to make her his. If she wanted to be his. He prayed to every god he knew that she did.
Because losing her wasn't an option.
With that intent in mind, he had a buffet laid out when she finally emerged from the bedroom. She looked at all of the food on display in astonishment and said, "You must be starving."
Okay, so he'd gone overboard, but with good reason. "I didn't know what you liked, so I ordered one of everything," he admitted as he pulled a chair out for her.
"I'm not much of a breakfast person," she confessed regretfully as she sat. "Coffee and fruit are all I need."
"Then that's what you'll have," he agreed and poured her a cup of coffee before placing a bowl of plump blueberries before her.
"Ooh. I love blueberries," Shana said with a smile and his wolf preened because they had pleased her.
"Then you will have them every morning," he promised and began to prepare his own plate.
Once he was seated, she stared at him over the rim of her coffee cup and said, "Thank you, Dane. This is a lovely gesture."
"No thanks necessary, beauty," he denied. "You're my mate. Providing your every need is my pleasure."
"About that," she said as she placed the cup on the table and lowered her hands to her lap. "What if I don't please you? What happens then?"
Dane blinked at her and then laughed at the ridiculous question. When he realized that she was serious, his amusement faded. "Shana, that could never happen," he assured her seriously. "If we weren't completely compatible, we wouldn't be mates. There is no way that you can displease me."
"I can be a bitch."
"I can be a beast," he countered with a straight face.
"I could get fat," she countered.
"Mmm. More of you to lick and nibble."
"I'll get old."
"Only if you choose to," Dane acknowledged since humans could live as long as their shifter mates if they exchanged blood regularly.
"I'm just a weak human," she said in exasperation. "You'd be better off with a shifter."
"Shana, the mate bond supersedes race, color, and creed. It has no boundaries. When two people are meant to be together none of that matters," he explained and was determined to put an end to these ridiculous self-doubts.
"I know," she confirmed and looked somewhat relieved. "It's just a lot to take in and I'm… scared."
"I know you are, but there's no reason to be," he assured her solemnly and lifted her hand to his lips. "You're perfect just the way you are. I wouldn't change a thing about you even if I could. And I'm not asking you to rush into this blindly. I want you to take your time and get to know me before you make a decision."
"Thank you," she sighed in relief and squeezed his hand.
"Now, eat your breakfast," he commanded playfully. "I need to fatten you up and prove how much I like your curves." She laughed as he had intended and threw a blueberry at him. Dane caught it in his mouth and shot her a wink. Now that her fear was gone his wolf could relax, and so could he.
***
After breakfast, they sat on the balcony and enjoyed the view with coffee. Shana could not get over how comfortable and right it felt. As if they were really were meant to be. But, they were still basically strangers and there was no way that she was going to make a lifelong commitment to a man she had just met without giving it some serious thought.
Thankfully Dane seemed to understand that.
He was so thoughtful and
considerate of her feelings and seemed completely attuned to her emotional state. She wondered how much of that was the wolf's perception and how much was the mans. Either way, she was grateful for his patience at not pushing her into something they would both regret.
Maybe his failed marriage had taught him that.
Since he had been so open with her about his ex-wife, it was only fair that she reciprocate in kind. She broke the companionable silence by saying, "In the interest of full disclosure, I'm supposed to be getting married in two weeks." The deep, rumbling snarl had her wide-eyed stare swinging in his direction.
His eyes were glowing again and his expression was positively feral. "Beauty, my wolf will not tolerate the thought of another man claiming you," he said in a gravely tone and lifted their joined hands to press a tender kiss to the back of hers. "Please bear that in mind before you continue."
"I don't love him," she hastily denied to ease his distress. "We've been friends for years, like you and your ex-wife were. We just sort of drifted together, out of loneliness. We've never… we've never even had sex."
"He's a bigger fool than I thought," Dane said and his eyes practically devoured her.
"I didn't know he was gay, or bi, or whatever the hell he is," she admitted. "When he said he wanted to wait until we were married, I thought he was being romantic."
He gave a bark of laughter at that. "Trust me when I tell you that no man, human or shifter, would willingly stay out of your bed without a damn good reason," he said seriously. "The only thing that could keep me out is if you said no."
Once again he had said just the right thing. The heat in his eyes and the hunger of his expression had her more than ready for a repeat performance. "Yes. Yes, yes, yes," Shana said as a wicked smile curved her lips. That was all it took. Her wolf shifter moved so fast that her head swam.
One second they'd been sitting on the balcony and the next they were both naked and lying on the rumpled bed. Dane made love to her with the wild passion that she craved the first time. The second was as sweet and gentle as the night before. The third was a happy medium and she'd never been so well loved.
Afterward, they lay curled together in the sheets watching as a storm rolled in. Shana realized that snuggling with Dane on a rainy day was better than her fantasy image had been. The man had the most gorgeous body she'd ever seen and she'd never tire of just looking at it. She'd bet his wolf was equally impressive.
Which prompted her to ask, "Can I meet your wolf?"
"Do you want to?" He asked and sounded as excited as a kid at Christmas.
"Yes," she laughingly agreed. "Of course I do. He's a part of you."
Those golden eyes shimmered with something that looked so much like love that it took her breath away. Then Dane captured her lips in a kiss of sheer reverence and caressed her cheek tenderly. "Don't be afraid," he said seriously as he slid off the bed. "My wolf looks scary as hell, but he'd never hurt you."
"All right," she agreed and now she was getting nervous because she was going to meet an actual wolf. What the hell was she thinking? Shana sat up and pulled the sheet up to cover her breasts. The sight of Dane's naked body captured her attention as he walked across the room and into the lounge.
She was still drooling over his gorgeous ass when a white wolf stuck its head in the door and sniffed the air. Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open in surprise as he crept cautiously inside the room. The beast was massive! And as perfect as the man. "Dane," she breathed in awe. "Your wolf is beautiful."
***
Her soft words couldn't have pleased the beast more and he began to prance toward her, his tongue lolling out in a canine smile. When he came level with the bed, the wolf placed his paws atop the mattress and lowered his head onto them. His mate reached out slowly and lightly brushed her fingers across his head.
"You're so soft and silky," she said in surprise as she caressed his ear.
Eager to feel more of her touch, he eased further onto the bed. Placing his head in her lap, he licked her hand. His mate tasted as sweet as she smelled. At the moment, she was covered in his scent, as she should be so other males would know that she was his. His human needed to mark her so everyone would know.
His mate's hands slid down his back and his muscles quivered in response to her touch. He kept easing onto the bed until he was stretched out full length beside her. She was rubbing him with both hands and it felt so good. The wolf rolled onto his back in a submissive position that he would adopt for none other than her.
Those gentle hands rubbed his chest and stomach and he softly growled his pleasure. His mate laughed and scratched his belly. "You're just a big, cuddly thing, aren't you?" She asked in amusement. With her, yes. With a threat to her safety, not even close. He was a dangerous predator who would kill given the right provocation.
Or for a tasty rabbit.
His mate needed to understand that he would fight to the death to keep her safe. His human assured him that she would in time. Time meant nothing to the wolf. He had found his mate and he needed to claim her. But he would give his human the time he needed because their mate deserved to be wooed properly.
But for now, he could cover her with his scent and get more of those wonderful touches. He proceeded to rub his face over every inch of her exposed flesh and licked the spot where his mark would go. His mate laughed and put her arms around his neck to hug him. The wolf threw his head back and howled his joy.
"What a beautiful sound," his mate said as she stared at him with eyes the color of a cool, clear pond. "I wish I knew what you were saying."
The wolf had announced to the world, 'She is mine. My mate.' He howled it again, softly, for her alone. It pleased him when she tried to imitate the sound as if she was claiming him. This made him so happy that he playfully nipped the cover she hid behind and pounced across the bed, baring her naked body.
"Oh!" His mate exclaimed in surprise and reached for the sheet. "You are a naughty wolf."
The wolf made a chuffing sound before he bounded off the bed, dragging the cover with him. His mate folded her arms over her chest and demanded, "Did you just laugh at me?" He nodded his head up and down. When she burst out laughing, he pranced beside the bed, wagged his tail and barked softly.
"Oh, so you want to play, do you?" His mate asked as she slid off the bed. She lunged for the pile of linens and he blocked her. She circled around him and grabbed a corner, yanking it from beneath his paw. He grasped a chunk in his teeth and shook it. His mate tugged her end. He tugged back.
After a few minutes, he let her have the sheet. "Ha!" She said triumphantly as she snatched it up and ran into the other room. A big, wolfish grin shown as he gave chase. A true predator, this was what he excelled at after all. Chasing prey. Bringing them down for the kill. Although he'd not hurt his mate.
But chasing her was so much fun!
***
Shana laughed and squealed with delight as she romped with the wolf. He was like an overgrown puppy, so playful and affectionate. He might be a massive creature, but the wolf was surprisingly agile. And so fast that his movements were blurred. She tripped on the edge of the sheet and in the blink of an eye, he was in front of her, breaking her fall.
"Thank you," she said breathlessly as she wrapped the sheet around herself before sinking down onto the fluffy rug in front of the fireplace. The very spot where they'd had sex the night before. She stretched out on her back and the wolf lay down beside her, placing his head on her chest. She laid a hand on the back of his neck, rubbing gently.
She loved the way he nuzzled his furry face against her neck as if he were petting her. "I like you, Mr. Wolf. You're adorable," Shana said and kissed his muzzle. The wolf stared back at her with those intense golden eyes and a shiver danced up her spine. "Although right now you look like you're going to eat me," she said in amusement.
A split second later he had darted behind the couch and before she could sit up, Dane rose to his feet in human form. "Best damn idea I'v
e heard all day," he said as he stalked toward her, still every inch a lethal predator.
"What idea?" She asked and then squealed in surprise when he scooped her up into his arms.
"Inviting the big bad wolf to eat you," he said with a grin that was nothing short of well, wolfish as he carried her into the bedroom.
"You're as naughty as your wolf," she teased.
"Anything to please my mate," Dane grinned confidently.
***
Much later, they lay curled together watching the storm again and she said, "Tell me about your family."
"Not much to tell," he replied. "It's just me and my brother."
"What about your parents?"
"We were adopted by our pack alpha," he explained with a fond smile. "Best thing that ever happened to us. He was a great father."
"What about your mother?"
Dane went preternaturally still beside her, the fingertips caressing her shoulder stilled. "Our mother was evil," he finally said. "She allowed unspeakable atrocities to be committed against her own children to satisfy her greed."
'I've been violated before, beauty, but not by you.' His softly spoken words from the night before filtered through her mind again and her heart shattered at the realization that Dane and his brother had been sexually abused. Her arms held him a little tighter and she placed a tender kiss against his chest.
"I'm so sorry that happened to you," Shana whispered tearfully. "I hope she was severely punished."
"Reece ripped her throat out," he admitted in a cautious tone as if he were afraid the action would appall her.
"Good. I hope it hurt like hell," she said in satisfaction and made a mental note to thank his brother when she met him.
Those fingers began their gentle caresses again as he commented, "Most people think what he did was barbaric."
"Most people shouldn't be so quick to judge," she countered. As a prosecutor for the district attorney's office, Shana had witnessed the kind of atrocities that humans committed on their own children. She fully understood what depraved indifference was and the people who committed those heinous acts were the true barbarians.