by K R Hall
“You’re right. I hadn’t thought about that. I have a little money stashed away in my savings account because the guys wouldn’t let me pay more than a hundred dollars a month in rent. I can buy some new clothes, shoes, and other things.”
“Good. You know that if you need anything that you don’t have the money for right now, I can pay for it. I’ve been doing well with the bed and breakfast and have a tidy sum saved. As my mate, what’s mine is yours.”
“Thank you, Nate, but I don’t feel comfortable taking your money. Remember, this mating is still fairly new to me. You have known we were mates for most of our lives; I’ve known only for a few months.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.” Nathaniel held up his hand when she tried to interrupt him. “No, I need to…”
“Nathaniel, I forgive you,” Tracie blurted out before he could continue.
“How can you even think about forgiving me?”
“Because you’re my mate. You always have been, and it’s the truth. All that time we wasted; we have a lot to make up for. I love you.”
Tracie realized that it was true. She did love Nathaniel. She realized that the passion and animal instincts from the mating bonds she fought from the beginning weren’t an artificial force but a real sign that they were right for each other.
“I love you too.”
Nathaniel pulled Tracie close for a kiss, his strong arms enveloping her. They were interrupted by the doorbell.
“That must be Rosalie. She has lousy timing,” Nathaniel grumbled.
***
Rosalie drove to San Diego, where they picked up Dixie and Lacey. It had been a long time since they had been together. Tracie felt warm and comfortable. The girls made a day of shopping. Their first stop was a two-story store that boasted a window full of all sorts of dresses.
The girls filled a couple of racks next to the fitting rooms.
“This one has gorgeous embroidery,” Dixie said, pulling out a dress and exposing the stitching to the light.
“I’ll give it a try,” Tracie said and carried it carefully into the fitting room.
Less than five minutes later, she opened the door and poked her head out.
“Would someone come zip me up?”
Lacey moved closer to the dressing room as Tracie turned around. She pulled the zipper up, and Tracie moved to the three-way mirror.
“Hmm. I don’t know.”
Tracie twirled slowly, checking out the dress’s fit.
“What do you think?”
“It’s pretty, but maybe in a different color,” suggested Rosalie.
“How about this hunter green dress?” Dixie asked as she held up a pretty green sheath-like gown from the rack.
“Sure, why not?” Tracie said as she took it and headed back into the fitting room after Lacey unzipped her dress.
A few minutes later, Tracie was standing back in front of the three-way mirror in the hunter green dress. The dress showed off all of her curves. The plunging neckline drew attention to her breasts. She could imagine the heated look she would see in Nate’s eyes.
“Oh, yeah. That’s sexy,” Rosalie said.
The third dress was perfect to wear to the wine festival Rosalie had mentioned. It was a wine-colored A-line, which the skirt flared slightly around her ankles. The neckline revealed a hint of cleavage. A combination of elegant beading circled the waist. Overall, it was breezy and simple. Perfect for the festival.
“It’s beautiful,” Rosalie said.
“I love it,” Dixie declared.
“Nate will love you in that,” Lacey added.
“I’ll get it,” Tracie replied as she headed back into the fitting room.
Ten minutes later, Tracie came out of the fitting room back in her street clothes with the dresses draped over her arm.
Rosalie suggested a shawl to match the dress she would wear to the festival. California’s autumn days were typically warm, but the evenings could get chilly. It didn’t take long to find a wrap to compliment the dress.
“That was quick,” Dixie said.
“Let’s grab some lunch before we do more shopping,” suggested Tracie.
“I could eat,” Lacey replied.
They headed to the food court. The air in the food court was thick with the scents of so many different foods. Tracie sat back in her chair and slowly drank her iced tea, listening to their familiar banter.
Tracie needed the day to connect with her best friends and forget the troubles from the last three weeks. They were joking and teasing each other without a care in the world. They were each other’s best friend and confidant combined.
They finished their lunch and headed to a shoe store, followed by a lingerie store. After, they stopped to get pants, tops, and makeup.
When it was time to head back to Rainbow, Rosalie dropped Dixie and Lacey back at their homes. They hugged each other and agreed to meet again in a month. They had decided to get together once a month instead of going several months between visits.
“Why don’t you text Nate and tell him you will stay with me tonight. You can meet him in the morning for your move,” Rosalie suggested.
“Great idea. I want to spend time with your kids and Dante as well.”
Tracie texted Nathaniel to let him know that she would stay the night at Rosalie’s and meet him in the morning for her move.
***
Early the following day, Tracie knocked on Nathaniel’s door and waited. Today was moving day. He had organized a few of their pack mates to help move her things. They were supposed to all meet here this morning by seven. She had stopped by McDonald’s to grab a few of their breakfast burritos.
The door opened with her hand in the air, preparing to knock again. She blinked, her mouth going dry at the sight of him.
Nathaniel stood there in the doorway, his hair disheveled as if he’d just woken up. His eyes were partially open as he squinted in the sunlight.
Tracie’s gaze traveled down from his face to his bare chest, and she had to force herself not to lick her lips. She loved the sprinkle of hair on his chest. His washboard abs showed the evidence of his working out to keep fit. The deep V at his hips pointed to a nice happy trail that ended at the top of his jeans.
“Sorry, I overslept. Come on in. I need coffee,” Nathaniel mumbled as he stood back then turned away, heading to the kitchen.
Tracie followed him into the kitchen and watched while he poured a cup of coffee for the two of them. She placed the bag holding their breakfast on the kitchen table as she sat.
“It has a programmable timer I set each night, so it’s ready when I get up,” Nathaniel explained.
He doctored their cups and handed her one. He took a seat at the table. He took a deep drink from his mug.
“Ahh,” Nathaniel sighed and grinned at her.
Tracie took a sip of her coffee then signed.
“This is so good.”
“I know. Best coffee on the West Coast.”
Nathaniel reached into the bag and pulled out the breakfast burritos. He handed two of them to Tracie and kept two for himself. He opened one of the wrappers and began eating.
“Today is moving day. Shouldn’t the others be here by now?” Tracie said between bites.
Nathaniel looked at the clock on the wall.
“Well, I told them to be here by seven-thirty. It’s going to be a busy day, and I wanted a little alone time with you.”
Nathaniel’s gaze raked Tracie’s body, and her nipples pebbled into hard points, pressing into her bra, and she was positive they were showing through her tank top.
“We have no time for that. Go take a shower and get ready.”
“Join me?”
“As tempting as that sounds, again, we have no time.”
“It’s going to be a lonely cold shower,” Nathaniel pouted.
“Poor baby. I promise to make it up to you.”
“I’ll hold you to it, sweetheart,” Nathaniel said as he stood and l
eaned over to kiss her. Then he headed to shower.
It took a lot of willpower for her not to follow him.
Chapter 9
Nathaniel couldn’t believe that the Shifter Council allowed Maximo to escape. That was extremely careless of them. Darias learned that the pumas were thugs for hire, that Maximo’s relatives hired to help him escape. That was four days ago. He was sure to come to the Lykos pack for revenge.
The enforcers beefed up security around the pack lands. Tracie refused a bodyguard, saying she felt like a prisoner. After the break-ins at her apartment above Legacy Tattoo, Bruce and Stehn added security guards for late-night patrols.
There had been no sign of Maximo causing tension to flow through the pack bonds. There was only so much tension the pack could take before someone broke. Nathaniel hoped that the upcoming wine festival would help ease some of the strains. As part of the festival, their vineyard paired its wine with a harvest-themed appetizer, salad, soup, side dish, and dessert.
Maximo being on the loose wasn’t the only thing that had Nathaniel frustrated. His relationship with Tracie was stalled. He thought when he and Tracie made love, and she moved in with him, it was a done deal. She moved into a guest bedroom, and they have hardly seen each other in the last four days since she moved in, let alone have sex. It was more like they were roommates. His wolf was on edge, demanding that they go find their mate and claim her once and for all.
What was wrong with him? Nathaniel knew Tracie wanted him. He could smell her desire rolling off of her. She confused the hell out of him. She wasn’t physically pushing him away, but she wasn’t coming closer to him either. The woman tore him up inside, and he didn’t know how to fix it. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Fated matings weren’t supposed to be complicated. Nothing that truly mattered was ever easy, but damn it, no one had ever had such a hard time. He had too many questions and not enough answers.
The Lykos Wine Harvest Festival was coming up. Perhaps he could invite her to spend the day with him. He could remind Tracie of the fun they had just hanging out. Remind her of all of the things they had in common. Could he wait that long?
The festival was a spotlight on the local pack restaurants. Guests can sample over one hundred beers and wines. There were many food stations with everything from pralines to fried green tomatoes. Dance performances from the children’s dance studio were going to be held at the main stage.
Grape stomp competitions were held daily. Teams of three to five stompers competed to produce the largest volume of juice stomped from fresh grapes. The prize was the same each year, a simple silver trophy and a free case of their choice of wine. There was also a themed costume contest for the children held in conjunction with the grape stomp.
Nathaniel walked to work today. When the weather was comfortable in the mornings, it was a pleasure to walk the few blocks to work, drinking in nature. He walked through downtown to get to the bed and breakfast. He passed the art gallery, then the coffee shop where he sometimes treated himself to a latte. He passed by the pharmacy, then a bookstore that sold both new and used books.
Time flowed like cement. Nathaniel checked his cell for the millionth time. Less than five minutes had passed since he last checked the time an hour ago, or so it seemed. Sitting there with nothing to stare at but the cream-colored walls of his office at the bed and breakfast was excruciatingly dull. Today was Tracie’s day off from work. She was most likely sitting at home right now. He’d leave work and go to her and explain to her what her fate was about to become.
As Nathaniel walked back home, he passed the park and spotted children playing softball while others played on the swings and other equipment. Today was a beautiful early autumn day. A slight breeze ruffled his hair. At the end of the street, he turned left and headed down the block to his home.
Nathaniel spotted the Peabody’s Lawn Service truck parked on the street in front of the Barbaro’s home. A Buick sedan was parked in the driveway of Jennifer Woods’ home. Her mother was visiting this week for the festival. A few children were playing in their yards. Mary and her partner Sylvia sat on their porch bench sipping what looked to be iced teas; he waved at the ladies before walking up his driveway and entering his home. This was the life he always wanted: a peaceful neighborhood, his mate and their cubs playing in the front yard.
Maybe now that Tracie knew they were mates and had moved in with him, it would happen. He was a bit skeptical because Tracie had only moved in because her life was threatened, and she didn’t feel safe in her old apartment anymore. Yes, it was time for him to explain exactly what being his mate meant to him. No more of this roommate stuff. Well, he would never force himself on her.
Nathaniel wanted more than just sex. He wanted communication, a connection, a bond for eternity. He wanted Tracie to love him for his soul, just as he loved her for her’s. Her body was curvy, sexy, tempting, but she’s more than that. She had a strength in her that called to his wolf.
Ten minutes spent searching inside their home, Nathaniel headed out to the backyard to find Tracie. He spotted her near the back of the fence dripping in sweat, cursing at the lawnmower.
“Threatening the lawnmower will not help,” Nathaniel called out as he walked closer to her.
“It stopped working after I only mowed half the yard,” Tracie grumbled.
Nathaniel looked the mower over, then stepped back and looked at Tracie.
“Did you fill the gas tank before you started?”
“Umm, no.”
Chuckling, he walked into the shed and returned quickly with the spare gas can. He opened the gas lid and filled the tank.
“Why don’t you go inside and get cleaned up? It’s too hot to finish. I promise to finish it up after dinner when it’s cooler,” he suggested.
“Oh, okay.”
“Tracie?”
“Yes?”
“We need to talk. I’d like you to join me in the living room when you finish. Okay?”
“Sure,” Tracie replied, frowning before turning around and running inside.
Later, after Nathaniel changed out of his work clothes, he entered the living room. He spotted Tracie sitting on the brown leather sofa. She smelled fresh and clean. She wore a San Diego Padres Baseball t-shirt that clung to her delicious curves. Her jeans looked as though they had been made specifically for her because they fit so snugly.
Nathaniel sat in a recliner across from her. He needed to get a grip on his libido. They needed a serious talk. He couldn’t be distracted by fantasizing about her lush body and how it felt when they had made love a few weeks ago. He remembered her feel, her touch, her scent, her taste, and the sounds she made as he made her cum over and over. He took a deep breath in through his nose and let it out slowly.
“Tracie, meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me. Can’t you see how I feel about you? Can’t you see that I’ve been in love with you since we were twelve? I had to watch you go out with other guys, and it killed me. Tracie, you are mine. You belong to me as my mate.”
“I care for you, Nate, but all we did was have sex. That’s not really dating. There’s no future in that,” Tracie said, exasperated.
“Male wolves know who their true mate is from the moment he smells her. She gives off a scent that he alone can smell, and it’s more appealing to him than any other scent on Earth. Once he knows who she is, there is no other woman for him; all he wants is her. That first day you arrived at Shannon’s foster home, I knew you were my mate. I didn’t tell you because we were both too young. Also, I wanted you to love me for me, not the mating bond. Can’t you see what you do to me?”
“That’s just lust,” Tracie grumbled.
“It’s more than that. I can barely breathe when we’re not together. When we are together, I need to touch you. I need to smell your unique scent. Don’t you feel the same?”
“I, it’s just horniness.”
“The hell it is! I can’t stand to watch you dating anyone else anymore. Are you
in love with someone else?”
“No!”
“You just don’t love me.”
“Nate, please don’t pressure me.”
“Do you love me?”
Tracie froze. Her heart squeezed. Did she love Nate?
“I don’t know. Do you expect me to throw myself at you and say ‘take me forever’?” Tracie whispered.
Tracie wanted to be with Nate, but being mated didn’t mean happily ever after. That was only in fairytales, and real-life was no fairytale.
“Tracie, mates are for life. It’s more than marriage. That means I would defend you with my life even if the odds seem too great to be overcome. It means I will be there to comfort you in the troublesome times. It means I will celebrate with you when life is good. I will never cheat on you or betray you; never give up on us. There will never be a greater undertaking to me than protecting and caring for you, my mate.”
“You can’t think you’re going to get me that easily, Nate. I want everything. I want dates; I want you to show me how you feel and what you mean. I’m not going to just throw myself at you because you say we’re mates. You’ve known your whole life, while I just found out a few months ago,” Tracie explained.
“Tracie, I love you. You’re the only woman I have ever loved and will ever love. The only thing that would make me happier is if I knew that you felt the same way. Do you?” Nathaniel held his breath in anticipation.
Her heart flipped. Nathaniel loved her. He had finally admitted it to her. Tracie nodded and smiled, tears flooding her eyes. Nathaniel rose, sweeping her up into his arms, and kissed her soundly. His wolf leaped around in his head, howling in sheer joy. She kissed him back fiercely; her passion surprised and delighted him in equal measure.
“Yes, but I still want dates,” Tracie chuckled.
“You’ve got it, baby,” Nathaniel chuckled.
“Nate?”
“Yes, love?”
“Take me to bed.”
“As you wish,” Nathaniel growled before lifting her up and carrying her to his bedroom.