by Flora Dare
The closer she got, the wilder she felt. She burst through a set of trees and saw him. Her head thrown back, she howled in exaltation. He was here, he wasn't running away from her. He was running toward her.
As she moved forward, she shifted back to human, their bodies colliding and falling to the ground, wrapped in each other. His lips descended onto her mouth and she eagerly rose to meet him. Her panic dissolving at his touch and her fear fading with every stroke of his tongue. After a long hot moment, he pulled from her and stared down, looking at her face intently.
Tears slid down the side of her face and she had to force the words out, "I'm sorry I ran."
He peppered her face with kisses and said, "I love you, even if you aren't ready to love me back. I'll follow you wherever you go."
She rested her hand on his face, he was giving her an out, a way to hide. But she hadn't hidden with Stuart and she wasn't going to hide now either. "No. I mean, yes. Dammit. I never thought it could be real, again. I didn't think we got second chances. But I love you and you're my mate."
His hands tightened on her arms and his face grew fierce. "Are you sure?" His intense gaze pinned her to the ground.
"I'm sure. I didn't want it to be true. I thought...well, Reid smacked some sense into me, of all people. But when I'm not with you, I'm miserable and thinking of how to be with you."
"I probably have to give at least a month's notice, maybe more at the hospital. It will be hard to replace me, but now maybe the Southwest Itan and Alpha will have to figure stuff out instead. Not my problem. We can go anywhere in the world you want."
Her heart squeezed tight. He was willing to leave the pack for her, if that's what it took to be with her.
"Oh Marc, what if I said I wanted to be in Grayslake. To watch Lira raise her family and keep Memaw from meddling too much in everything."
His face was serious, "It will be harder for me to be apart from the pack then, but if Ty gives me permission to live in Grayslake there isn't much that Bates can do. Or would want to do. He's not inclined to force me."
"I'm glad to hear that, but, I meant..." this was almost harder than confessing her love, "I meant that I would be your mate, in the pack. Zoey has hinted that they could really use a hospital administrator. And I'm very good at that. I could stay here, with you, as your mate. Join the pack. Even Reid isn't so bad."
"For the first time in my life, I was jealous. Hearing that you came home with Reid? I was ready to take him apart."
"I ended up at the roadside memorial, for the accident. He found me there. Told me I was a goddamn idiot."
"I guess I can let him live. Since he brought you back to me."
"Marc, I love you. I don't want to run from my past anymore. I want to be with you." She tilted her head to the side and exposed her neck. "Claim me."
His lips were hot and fiery against her neck. He paused, "Are you sure, we can wait."
His groan against her skin resonated deep into her core. Her dress pooled around her waist and her fingers fumbled against his belt buckle.
"I've lived without a mate for over twenty years. I don't want to live another moment without your claim. Take me."
He was hard and thick in her hands, and this time, the frenzy inside her to feel him again, it wasn't goodbye. She wrapped her legs around his waist and as he slid home into her waiting sheath, he bit down on her neck, the hot blood forging a connection between them. Forever.
Chapter Twenty - Epilogue
Magda was curled in her mate's arms. She really didn't want to get up and face the day, but a churning stomach finally pushed her flying to the bathroom. Marc padded sleepily after her, bringing her a glass of water as she hugged the toilet and threw up.
She slumped against the sink and said, "Ugh, I really shouldn't have eaten those clams the other night. Three days in a row throwing up."
He handed her the glass and sat on the edge of tub. "Babe, I don't think you have food poisoning."
"I wonder if I'm allergic to something. I've never felt so odd before."
He rubbed his forehead and stared at his obtuse mate. "Let's go over your symptoms, shall we?" She shrugged and he started ticking them off on his fingers. "You get sick first thing in the morning. Sorry for noticing, but your boobs are definitely a little bigger. Your scent has changed."
"My boobs? That's simply hormonal, which is also my scent."
"Exactly. Hormonal. You're late for your period. By about two weeks."
"That can't be right. I'm not ready for menopause yet."
"Oh my sweet, obstinate and blind little mate. Open the cabinet."
Magda glared at him, her mind fuzzy and cranky, but she opened the cabinet. Inside, was a box of pregnancy tests. She pulled them out and looked at Marc, confused.
"Are you trying to say you think I'm pregnant? I'm 43!"
Marc said, "You are a healthy, fertile shifter. Why wouldn't you be?"
"But I'm too old, what will Lira say?" Magda slumped against the cool tile on the wall. Pregnant?
"Who do you think bought the tests?"
"What? Why? Did you tell her you thought that? She must be furious."
"Oh honey, she realized before me, the second your scent changed. She dropped them off a few days ago."
Magda looked up at her mate, and sheepishly said, "Does everyone know?"
Marc gently cupped Magda’s chin and said, "Honey, dogs know."
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Thank you for reading Make Her Howl. Did you miss Jake and Lira’s story? You can catch up with them in Secret to Bear. To find out more about upcoming book releases join my mailing list or like me on Facebook.
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Other Titles by Flora Dare
Want some bears? Double your pleasure with Bears Repeating.
Looking to try something a little different? Try Alpha Alien or get Taken by Space Pirates.
Have some paranormal cravings? Find out Her Shifter Secret.
More than Mated Kindle World
Keep adventuring in Celia Kyle’s More than Mated Kindle World with books from some of your favorite paranormal romance authors like Mina Carter, Ally Summers, Jessie Lane, K. Collins, Renee George, Ruby Shae, and Terra Wolf.
About the Author
Flora Dare lives in Durham, NC in a cute little pink house, with her husband, Scott and their hellion of a puppy, HaliToeses. She writes love, lust and mayhem in almost every flavor, and like The Pirate Movie, she wants a happy ending, every time!
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DISCLAIMER
The characters and events portrayed in this book are a work of fiction or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.