by Hazel Gower
“Mum and Dad are going to love these,” Kane said as he came over and stood next to Emma. “Mum said she wants one of us all too.”
Faith dragged a still reluctant Bengie over. Griffen, Hope, Remy, Arden, Kirby, and Ava all gathered around him as well, and he smiled when Grace and Sophie joined them. Ava and Logan gathered their triplets, and Grace and Sophie jumped on Jamie’s lap. He grunted as their weights rested on each thigh. Sophie’s bony butt wiggled, and he resisted the urge to groan as pain shot through him. He was strong, and being a shifter, he could hold onto and lift children for hours, but today he’d had hundreds of kids of all different weights on his lap.
Grace bounced on his lap, and he groaned as shards of pins and needles shot through him. Wrapping his arm around his adopted sister, Jamie ignored the chuckles of his brothers.
“Santa, I’ve waited all day like a good girl to see you,” Sophie beamed up at him.
“Yeah we both have,” Grace added.
At their smiling faces he looked around at his family and knew that being Santa wasn’t that bad if it made them all so happy.
* * * *
Eve
Eve watched in her wolf form as her family enjoyed Christmas afternoon. She missed them all terribly, even her annoying brothers. She tried to stay hidden in the crowd when Jamie, as Santa, sat and started taking photos and listening to children’s wishes. It became harder to hide when people started heading home and it dwindled down to just family.
Her wolf whined as all her brothers, bar Devlin, and her sisters, and Ava’s husband and sisters-in-law got in a picture with their children. The happiness on all their faces had her heart feeling like it sank to the bottom of her feet. Eve wished she could have a redo on many of the things she’d done this year.
She slowly backed up to the forest when the smell of home and love surrounded her, and her mother and father come up to her in wolf form on either side. Her father nipped her neck, and her mother grabbed her scruff and dragged her to where a pack of clothes sat overflowing in a bag.
Eve shifted and slipped on the clothes provided. Her mum changed and put on clothes in the bag too. Once Eve was dressed she turned to see her dad buttoning a dress shirt. Her stomach churned as she waited for them to say something. She hoped it wasn’t to yell at her for avoiding them and not facing the music for all she’d done wrong. She’d had enough anger from her brothers and even her twin sister’s mate too. She didn’t think she could handle her parents as well.
“Want to tell me why the hell you’re lurking around here and haven’t answered our calls for months?” her father snarled.
Eve shrank back, and her wolf whimpered at the anger thick in his voice. “Daddy, I’m sorry.” She was. She should have trusted him and her brothers to protect and get things done. She shouldn’t have put her pregnant family members in danger.
“Oh, pumpkin.” Her mother gathered her into her embrace, and she went willingly, enjoying her mum’s unconditional love.
“Do they still hate me?” Eve mumbled against her chest. Kane had been ready to throttle her the last time he’d seen her, and from what she knew her other brothers all felt the same way.
Her dad yanked her out of her mother’s hold and tilted her chin up so she stared into his eyes. “They may have disliked you and been really angry with you, but none of your brothers hate you. Hate is such a strong word. They all love you, but what you did really tested all their family love limits.” His hand dropped and her gaze followed it, unable to see the disappointment in his eyes any longer. “You need to stop fighting who and what you are, Eve.” He sighed and gathered her to him for a hug. “No more hiding.”
“Come on. I want you in the family photo too. We’re going to add Devlin in later.” Her mother yanked her out of her father’s embrace.
Digging her heels into the ground, Eve planted her feet, avoiding following her mother. “I can’t go. They don’t want me there.” Her stomach sank, and Eve felt like she was going to be sick at the thought of having a confrontation with her brothers and sister again.
Both her parents faced her and each of them held one of her hands. “Pumpkin, it’s Christmas. It’s a time to be surrounded by family. A time for love, and above all forgiveness.” Her mum stroked her cheek.
Her heart that had been breaking at watching her family take photos without, started beating again and faster with each word her mother said. Could her mum be right? Would they all forgive her so easily?
“Come on Eve, before Jamie’s smile cracks. He’s been a good sport. Better than I expected him to do.” The grin on her father’s face was one of pure enjoyment, like he enjoyed watching his youngest son sit all afternoon and be climbed all over by kids in a Santa suit.
Eve followed her parents, but at a slow pace, still unsure if her brothers would really forgive her for the parts she played in their mates’ troubles.
Faith, always surprising her, broke first from the group and ran over to them. “Mum. Dad. Eve. It’s so good you’re here just in time for family photos.”
She grabbed Eve’s wrist and dragged her over to her family. Eve’s heart soared when none of her brothers yelled at her or said anything as she came and joined the group.
Faith leaned in and whispered in her ear. “I’ve talked to all of them. It’s Christmas. Kane is still annoyed, but you’re his sister and mine too. We love you. No more hiding. Merry Christmas. Relax.”
Faith was the leader and everyone followed her. If Faith said she could relax and enjoy her family, then she would because she trusted Faith. Eve just hoped that this peace would last.
Everyone turned toward the photographer, and the woman shouted, “Say Merry Christmas!”
Darting her gaze around quickly, Eve smiled as she looked at her growing family before she turned back and joined in with everyone as they all said, “Merry Christmas!”
About Hazel Gower
A USA Today bestselling author, Hazel is the mother of four energetic children. When she isn’t chasing after her children or being their chauffeur, she’s sitting at her computer writing hot, sexy romances with Alpha men and women who always get their man.
In the little amount of spare time she has Hazel likes to read any romance books she can get her greedy hands on.
Hazel would love to hear from any of her readers, so feel free to send her an email and like her on Facebook.
Hazel’s Website:
www.hazelgower.com
Reader eMail:
[email protected]
More Beachwalk Press Titles by Hazel Gower
Kane’s Mate
Rane’s Mate
Ava’s Mate
Arden’s Mate
Griffen’s Mate
The Protectors, Volume 1
Winning Her Love
Earning Her Love
Winning Her Love
Can love survive when surprises are revealed?
Chad Douglas has been in love with his younger sister’s best friend for years, but he’s kept his distance—their age difference, his rising rugby career, and uncertainty standing in his way. However, a drunken night together allows Chad to believe that maybe there is a chance, only for everything to come crumbling down when he wakes to find Lana gone.
After living in England for the past three years, Lana Cage moves back home to Australia. The night before she left Australia for England is a blank memory, but on her arrival home, the consequences end up being a surprise for both her and Chad.
Desperate for another chance at love, can Chad and Lana have their happily ever after once the surprise is revealed? Or will trust be lost and their lives forever changed?
Content Warning: this book contains one tough rugby player who knows exactly what he wants and is determined to get it
Earning Her Love
A hot cop and a single mum…
Mia Lexington is a mother whose life is devoted to caring for her four-year-old son Zane. After her family abandoned her on the heels of he
r baby’s father, Mia vowed to never again allow anyone to make her feel like her parents and Zane’s father did. Since that time she’s refused to allow any man to get close to her.
Alex Douglas is at his niece’s swimming lesson when he first meets Mia and her son. He doubts the gorgeous young woman would give him a second thought. He’s also hesitant because of their eighteen-year age gap, but he can’t get her out of his mind. Before he gets a chance to ask her out, she’s gravely injured and her son is left with nowhere to go. Not wanting Mia to lose her boy to the foster care system, he lies so he can claim temporary custody…but what will Mia think of his grand gesture when she awakes?
Content Warning: this book contains a hot cop and steamy sex scenes
Kane’s Mate
Armageddon Mates, Book 1
Faith’s life has always balanced in two worlds—the normal human world and the supernatural. Now she has to choose between the two.
Faith York is human, but she has psychic powers, which is a little odd since neither of her parents have paranormal abilities. Thankfully, the werewolf family who lived around the corner help her learn to control her powers. She instantly fell in love with the entire family, but especially Kane, the oldest son who is next in line to be Alpha. Unfortunately, Kane doesn’t see Faith the same way she sees him. Heartbroken, she leaves town.
When Faith returns from two years overseas, her parents throw her a welcome home party. Faith is shocked when Kane kidnaps her from the party and mate marks her. Now she struggles with the choice of whether to leave again and live a normal life—a life she yearns for—or stay with the man she’s always dreamed of and live a supernatural life.
To complicate matters further, her psychic powers intensify and she begins to have visions of an upcoming demon Armageddon. Then she learns she was switched at birth, and she has a half-brother…who is half demon.
Faith must be stronger than she ever believed possible, and maybe in the process, she can trust herself to give Kane another chance.
Content Warning: Sexy werewolf alpha, graphic sex, strong language, and violence
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Back Cover Copy
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Author's Foreword
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Epilogue
A Douglas Family Christmas
A Wolfen Family Christmas
About Hazel Gower
More Beachwalk Press Titles by Hazel Gower
Winning Her Love
Earning Her Love
Kane's Mate