The Chosen Series Box Set: Books 1 - 3

by Charlene Hartnady

  Ward grinned so widely that his dimples popped out.

  “What is it?” She blew on a spoonful and put it into her mouth grimacing. “It tastes funny.”

  “I think”—Ward moved towards her, putting his arms around her—“that there may be many more cooking lessons ahead for you, Steph.” He pulled her towards him.

  “Oh yeah?” She raised her eyebrows, going up onto her tippy toes so that she was face to face with him.

  “Oh yeah.” He pecked her lips. “Like possibly a lifetime of them.” He covered her mouth with his lips, his tongue penetrated her mouth causing her to moan.

  “Oh really?”

  He kissed her again, this time lingering for a second or two. “I think I might be forced to have you for dinner tonight.”

  Excitement coursed through her. “Promises, promises.”

  “No, really. I’ve had a bit of a craving not just to bite you but to taste your blood.” He pulled a face like the idea was unappealing, but when his gaze strayed to her throat it heated with both desire and yearning.

  “I guess you must have taken on some of my traits.”

  Ward licked his lips. “Must have.” His hands slid to her ass and he cupped her. “Your scent drives me wild.” He pulled her against him. His erection hard and throbbing between them.

  “Does this mean that we finally get to…” She bobbed her eyebrows.

  “Only if you’re feeling up to it.” He started to back away, so she gripped his biceps.

  Not wanting to let this opportunity slip away, she rubbed herself against him. Ward groaned, letting his head fall back.

  “I’m really ready.” She purred while rubbing up against him a second time.

  “Well in that case.” His hot breath fanned the shell of her ear.

  The cry of a baby sounded from the next room. Ward made a sound of frustration.

  “Your daughter knows that you are home and is demanding that you hold her.” Their little girl had been a big surprise. They firstly hadn’t been expecting her at all and secondly, there was the fact that she was a female. It was clear that interspecies breeding was unknown territory. Both of her precious children were more than she could ever have hoped for, and they were both thrilled at the unexpected surprise.

  “More like she wants to be fed.” He glanced down at her straining shirt. Her mammary glands were enormous. “Mmmmm, I think I might have a hankering for some milk as well.” Ward licked his lips and his gaze heated. “It’s not fair that the babies get to have all the fun.”

  Just then, little Nathan also started crying. “You get Cat and I’ll get Nathan.” Stephany smiled when she noticed Ward’s deep frown.

  “Don’t call our daughter Cat. Her name is Catrina.”

  Stephany smiled back. “I think I can remember my own mother’s name.” They had decided on Nathan for a boy after his father, just the modernized version and Catrina after her mother. Ward hated it when she called her Cat for short, because how could a wolf pup grow up being called Cat? It just wasn’t right, he’d said on more than one occasion, but had accidentally let the pet name slip a few times himself.

  Both babies stopped crying the instant that they were picked up. Stephany settled herself down on the rocker and Ward handed her Catrina. Emerald green eyes stared up at her. The little girl also had the same dark hair as her father.

  Stephany smiled at her mate. “I couldn’t be happier.” She sighed.

  “Oh, yeah,” Ward’s nostrils flared as she opened her top, exposing a plump breast. “Just wait until I get my paws on you tonight. I haven’t heard you cuss in the longest time. I plan on doing everything in my power to rectify that.”

  His heated look had her insides turning to mush. Thank the gods she’d opened her eyes that day in the shower…

  Rushe kept his eyes trained on the cabin that housed the human female. He’d specifically asked for this detail, and thankfully Ward had granted him the honor of keeping watch over the healer. She was after all a guest to their village.

  It was getting late, a full moon hung at half-mast in the crisp night sky. Blood coursed through his veins and the need to shift and run through the forest rode him hard. He tramped down on the craving, understanding that the real urge that had him pacing and his adrenaline surging through his veins was inside the four walls in front of him.

  His beast had decided that it wanted Becky, not just to rut but to mate. It didn’t happen very often to a shifter that their beast was so demanding. The overwhelming desire to rut her and spill his seed inside her was the real reason why his wolf was so restless. To the point where his skin felt tingly and overly tight. His canines ached. His dick throbbed in the tight confines of his pants and no amount of masturbation would ease the pressure.

  Just scenting her honey suckle aroma as it drifted on the slight night breeze had his eyes rolling in his head and a light rumble vibrating from his chest.

  Rushe decided to do one final patrol of the perimeter of the cabin. It was an excuse to get closer. To capture more of her delicious scent, and he knew it.

  He hadn’t walked very far when a strange buzzing noise came from behind the closed door. It was at first a steady buzz that had him scratching his head. Within seconds the buzzing became even louder and then returned to softer in the next instance. This continued for a time, the changes to the sound variation increasing and decreasing in tempo.

  Was something wrong?

  Rushe listened intently, allowing his magnified hearing to penetrate the cabin door. Becky whimpered. The female sounded like she was in pain. The buzzing noise continued. When she sobbed, he knew that she had to be in serious trouble. His protective instincts went into overdrive and he rushed into the cabin. Ready to save her…

  The female lay on the bed. His instinct to kill, to maim, to do whatever it took to protect her changed in a heartbeat. Now that he had caught an eyeball full of the glorious creature laying splayed before him, another much stronger instinct emerged.

  Becky wore one of those silky black nighties. It was pulled tight around her glorious breasts. He made a whimpering noise of his own when he realized that he could see the clear outline of her plump nipples against the shiny fabric. The black silk rode up high on her waist. The delectable creature lay spread-eagled with her hand firmly between her legs. Her pussy was the most perfect, glistening pink.

  The human lifted her head from the pillows, her blond curls danced about her face. Her eyes were hooded and her lips parted. A deep flush accentuated her cheeks.

  To his utter shock, her cupid bow shaped mouth pulled into a wicked smile that had him taking a hesitant step back.

  In one easy stroke, she removed a thick rubber device from her slick opening. At least he now knew what was making the buzzing noise. She arched her back in a seductive manner that had his eyes drawn first to the tight peeks on her chest and then to her very wet slit. “Care to finish me off?” She purred. Her honey suckle aroma enveloped him.

  Although Rushe was next on the list, he technically wasn’t allowed to seduce a human female just yet. Not only that, Ward had forbid him from talking to the human while she was here let alone from touching her. His alpha trusted him to do the right thing. Gritting his teeth, he took another half step back unable to tear his eyes off the magnificent female.

  Book 3: Unlikely Mates

  Part I

  His First

  Chapter 1

  The human giggled at something Yale said and his guts felt like they were being pulled apart from the inside out. His wolf growled inside him, low and deep.

  The panther shifter tossed him a narrow-eyed look and the little female’s eyebrows shot up, making him realize that he had growled out loud as well.

  Rushe forced himself to uncurl his fists, to stop gritting his teeth. His wolf may have decided that Becky was its future mate, but that didn’t mean he had any hold over her. In fact, the opposite was true. When he had gone to implore his Alpha to allow him to be given guard duty over
their guest, Ward had made it clear that Rushe must keep his distance from the human.

  His instinct to claim her rode him hard.

  He was permitted to watch only. Preferably no talking, but definitely no touching. It drove him to complete distraction, particularly when other shifter males in the village insisted on flirting with the beautiful human. Not that he could blame them.

  His name was next on the list. Once Eliot and Patricia mated, it would be his turn to seek a mate. Right now, looking would have to be enough. Man, she was a sight to behold. Lightly curled hair the color of spun gold. The brightest, bluest eyes he had ever seen, they reminded him of a crystal clear mountain spring.

  Human females were tiny in general, Becky was no exception. Though her hips were made for holding and her breasts were voluptuous, decadent even. They bounced and swayed beneath the thin fabric of the blue summer dress that she wore. Her deep cleavage was so sinful that it could bring a grown man to tears.

  Again, the big problem was that Rushe was not the only one who had noticed. All eyes were drawn to her.

  “I could take you for a walk. The views around here are magnificent.” The panther shifter’s eyes dropped to her breasts and Rushe’s hands closed into fists and his canines distended. There was nothing he could do to stop it.

  Becky smiled. “I’m not one for traipsing around in the wild, I might ruin my sandals.” She looked down at the thin strands on her feet. They shimmered with sparkling stones.

  “I could carry you.” Yale took a step in her direction, his eyes moved to the female’s lips, his intentions clear.

  Rushe’s wolf’s hackles went up, its ears back. Teeth bared. It took a whole lot of self-control to keep himself from shifting. If the panther so much as laid a finger on his female, the male would bleed.

  “Maybe some other time.” The human winked at Yale, she said her goodbyes and walked away from the noticeably disappointed male. Her hips sashayed with every step, her mouth-watering mammary glands bounced gently.

  Rushe couldn’t help but breathe out a heavy sigh as she moved farther down the path. He quickly moved in behind her, leaving a small following distance between them.

  “Are you having a bad day?” Becky glanced back at him over her shoulder. A smile graced her full, raspberry-tinted lips.

  “No,” he growled. Rushe cleared his throat. “I mean … no, why would you think that?” His voice was still gravelly since his wolf was just beneath the surface, but at least now he wasn’t growling at her anymore.

  He picked up his pace, moving in next to her while being careful to keep his distance. She cocked her head, scrutinizing him. “Why the serious frown then?”

  “I have been tasked with the responsibility of your care.”

  They continued to walk in the direction of her cabin. Her smile widened. “And that makes you unhappy?”

  Rushe stopped walking; she’d completely misinterpreted his reactions to the other males.

  “You see …” she paused. Her smile had completely disappeared from her face. “Just look at your frown. I’m sure Ward could assign someone else to my care if this is so difficult for you. One of the other males—”

  It happened before he could stop it, his lip curled back and he growled. Just the thought of another male having to stay this close to her because of guard duty sent his beast into overdrive.

  The human put her hands up, her eyes wide. “You also keep doing that and it’s starting to freak me out.”

  He cursed softly, causing her eyes to widen even more. “I’m sorry.” Rushe scrubbed a hand over his face. “I’m really sorry. It’s just, I don’t like the way the males behave with you.”

  She looked confused. “They’ve been nothing but nice.”

  Rushe made a sound of frustration. “Nice! No way, they would all like nothing better than to rut you.”

  She burst out laughing. “As my guard, shouldn’t you be more worried about one of them trying to hurt me. A little sex never hurt anyone.” Her eyes hooded and she bit her lip.

  “I wouldn’t like it.”

  “What, sex? Don’t you like sex?” She tucked a loose curl behind her ear.

  He grinned. “No, I would like rutting very much …” His eyes inadvertently tracked her body, pausing on the junction at her thighs.

  “My eyes are up here, wolfie.”

  With difficulty, he looked up into her sparkling blue orbs.

  She threw him a half-smile that had his already hard dick swelling even further. “What is it that you don’t like then?” she asked.

  “I wouldn’t like it if one of those males were to rut you.” At the thought of one of those fuckers laying even a paw on this female, his voice emerged in a low growl.

  The little human folded her arms across his chest and her breasts plumped up to just under her chin. Rushe licked his lips, trying hard not to drool. Working even harder to keep his eyes locked with hers. “Why is that?” She smiled almost slyly, looking at him from under her long lashes.

  “I want to you for myself, female, and I don’t share well. I dream of licking your pussy. I would make you scream with pleasure. When you come … hard,” he paused, loving how her cheeks turned crimson, “I will lap up every drop of your nectar.”

  Her hands dropped to her sides and her mouth fell open, she made a squeaky noise. Her honeysuckle scent turned all the sweeter with her arousal.

  Rushe felt his nostrils flare and took her reaction as an invitation to continue. “I would put you onto all fours and fuck you till you begged me to stop. Only then would I allow myself to come deep inside of you, which would make you come all over again … so hard that your eyes would roll into the back of your skull. You would tear at the bed and possibly break all of your pretty pink nails.”

  “Oh my …” Her eyes fluttered closed for a second and she put a hand to her chest.

  “If another male tries anything with you, I will snap his bones and make him bleed.”

  “Violence shouldn’t sound sexy, but it so does right now.” She fanned her face with her free hand. “I decided a while back that I would find a sexy man to fuck. No strings and all that.”

  “Where is this man of whom you speak? A mere man can never satisfy a sensual female such as yourself.” Again, he couldn’t help it when his eyes dipped to her cleavage and he had to work hard not to adjust his dick in his pants.

  “Slip of the tongue. I don’t want a man, honey.” Her voice had turned husky.

  Excitement surged through his veins and he urged her to continue with a nod of his head.

  Becky deliberated for a few beats. “So far I haven’t done much about it, but I think I would like you in my bed. You know all of those things you said you want to do to me? Well, I say yes.” She bounced and her curls flew about her face. “I want it all … with you.”

  Rushe groaned, noticing how her breasts jiggled in time with the motion. “I’m happy you feel that way.”

  “You don’t look happy.” She stopped bouncing.

  “I am … it’s just that you are off limits while you are here at the village.” He heard the disappointment in his own voice.

  Becky pulled a face. “That freaking sucks. You make me all hot and bothered and there isn’t going to be any follow through?”

  He shook his head. “Ward has forbidden me from rutting you.”

  “Is it just you, or all the males?”

  He growled.

  “Chill, big guy. I don’t want to rut with the other males.” She smiled at him. “I may flirt, but I’m not a slut.”

  “I don’t understand what that means.”

  “I don’t generally have no-strings-attached sex. I certainly wouldn’t hop from one bed to the other. Heck,” she giggled, “I haven’t had sex in the longest freaking time.”

  He still didn’t fully understand exactly what she meant, but at least she didn’t plan on rutting any of the other males. Rushe let out a big sigh, feeling a little better. “None of the other males are permit
ted to rut you anyways, but I am still glad that you want only me.”

  The human smiled. “I’ll give you my number before I leave and you can call me.”

  “Can we have dinner some time?” He had been talking with some of the other males to try to find out more about humans. He’d also bought a whole stack of magazines that explained exactly what females wanted and what made them tick. For now, he focused mainly on courting and rutting. He knew they enjoyed meeting in public places and eating as a couple. Especially if there was a candle on the table.

  She shook her head. “No movie, no dinner, no dancing.”

  He felt a frown form. That was a direct contradiction of all that he had learned.

  Becky grinned. “I only want you to do those things that you described to me earlier.” She looked him straight on, a glint in her eyes.

  Rushe groaned at the thought. “I will do all of those things and more, human.”

  “More?” She chewed her lip.

  “Oh yes …” His voice was a deep vibration, his dick throbbed behind his zipper. “Standing, sitting … There is this one position that will stimulate both your clit and your G-spot simultaneously.”

  Her chest heaved. Her breasts strained against the material of her dress. Her cheeks were flushed. Rich, sweet honeysuckle surrounded him, intoxicating him. “I would like that very much.” Her voice was husky. “Are you sure we can’t—”

  He shook his head.

  “Tonight …?”

  He shook his head harder.

  “You’re really going to make me wait?” Her hands went to her hips.

  “Yes, a few days, but know that it is not by choice. If I had my way, I would fuck you right now.” His eyes slid down the delicious length of her. Each and every wondrous curve. Rushe knew he would find untold pleasure inside his mate. Moreover, he couldn’t wait to find out what made her tick, her likes and her dislikes. Everything about her.