Christmas for the Wolves & a Wolf for Valentine's Day (Grey Wolf Pack) (8 page)

Don dragged his gaze away from Kayleigh. “Cathy? Wow, you look great. How are you?”

Cathy flushed happily at the compliment and scooted round the table. Don stood up and Cathy eagerly hugged him. “You look amazing. I swear you’ve hardly changed at all since high school. I’m good, thanks. I’m divorced with two kids, but doing okay.”

Kayleigh watched the woman with narrowed eyes. Yes she just ‘happened’ to throw her marital status into the conversation.
Time to put a stop to this
.

Kayleigh stood up and placed a proprietary hand on Don’s arm. “Hi Cathy, I’m Kayleigh, Don’s wife.”

Cathy froze and looked at the young, blonde beauty in dismay. “Oh! It’s, ummm, it’s nice to meet you.”

Don snaked an arm round his mate’s waist and rubbed his thumb over her hip bone. Cathy couldn’t take their order fast enough.

“Old girlfriend?” asked Kayleigh accusingly after Cathy scuttled away.

Don arched an eyebrow. “Actually no, she used to date a friend of mine. She wasn’t interested in me.”

Kayleigh huffed. “Maybe not back then,” she muttered.

Don silenced her with a toe curling kiss, “Doesn’t matter, darlin’.”

Kayleigh was still jealous, but slightly mollified. Don was a little surprised at seeing the hungry looks on the faces of his brothers.
Apparently, they wouldn’t mind Kayleigh being possessive of them either
.

The rest of breakfast was uneventful. Jodie was snooty, Rick leered at Kayleigh, Crystal watched Kayleigh eat, with longing, and Evan kept reiterating how good it was to see Don. Kayleigh ignored them all to play footsy under the table with her mate.

His family grew bored of watching Don and Kayleigh fondling each other, and left, telling the couple they would see each other tomorrow for Christmas dinner.

When they got in the elevator, Kayleigh waited for the doors to close before pushing Don against the wall and nipping his neck. “Alone at last.”

Don rested his hands on her ass as he rubbed his jaw over her bonding mark and inhaled her heavenly scent.

The doors pinged open again, and Kayleigh spun to see a small, harried-looking pregnant woman getting in the elevator, with three children jumping around and hanging off her arms.

“Stop it!” yelled the woman, before freezing. “D… Don?” she stammered, eyes wide in fright.

Kayleigh felt his chest rise and fall behind her. “Melinda,” he hissed, as his wolf bellowed in fury.

Kayleigh gasped.
It was Don’s ex-girlfriend
. Or rather, it was the witch who had used a spell to make Don think she was his true mate, so she could con his family out of money. Don had mourned for her, thinking he had lost his true mate, until he met his real true mate, Kayleigh.
Clearly Melinda was unhappily surprised to see Don there.

Don’s hands rested on Kayleigh’s stomach, she covered them with hers and stroked them, gently and reassuringly.

Melinda looked to be on the verge of tears. “My mom told me you visited her a few weeks ago. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

“It’s not worth much,” growled Don.

Melinda flicked her eyes to the elevator doors, considering making a run for it.
It wasn’t likely she could outrun a wolf shifter, even if she weren’t pregnant.

“Which floor?” demanded Don, gruffly.

Melinda blinked at him. “What?!”

“Which floor?”

“Oh, ummm, three… please.” Melinda flicked her eyes between Don and Kayleigh uncertainly.

Don disentangled a hand and pushed the buttons for three and five. Melinda stared at her feet as the elevator shuddered to life.

When they reached her floor, Melinda herded the children out and turned back to Don. “Again I’m sorry.” She hurried away as the doors closed.

Don was silent until they reached their own room. He took Kayleigh’s face in his hands. “Are you okay?”

“Am I okay?! That bitch, she…”

Don kissed her softly before leaning his forehead against hers. “Doesn’t matter.”

“But…”

“Doesn’t matter, darlin’.”

Don moved his hands down to her back and began unzipping her dress. His wolf perked up from the encounter with Melinda, and suddenly became very interested in what was happening.

“But Don…”

“No darlin’, it really doesn’t matter. I’ve thought about it over and over, and I don’t care about Melinda. I’m not even angry at her even more.”

“You’re not?” asked Kayleigh. “Because I’m fucking furious!”

Don pushed the sleeves of her dress off her shoulders and let it drop to the floor. He cupped her mound and she let out a delighted ooooohhhh. His wolf howled happily.

“I’m not angry at her. If she hadn’t done what she did, I wouldn’t have left my pack, I wouldn’t have gone to Rose, and I wouldn’t have met you. I’d probably be in an arranged mating to a wolf who can’t stand me.”
Much like his brothers
.

“You can’t honestly condone what she did,” breathed Kayleigh, trying to ignore the heat spreading throughout her.

Don pushed a finger inside her, and she squirmed. “Of course not, I’m not about to thank her for it, but it did lead me to you. The last twenty years weren’t fun, but they were just years spent waiting for you, anyway. You were worth the wait.”

“You’re insane if you believe that, cowboy. Oh, yes, right there, that’s lovely!”

Don pushed his thumb against her clit. “Then I’m insane.”

Kayleigh felt a niggle of doubt about what he said; she couldn’t believe that she really was worth twenty years of loneliness. Yet, through their bond, she sensed he was telling the truth. She felt so blessed to have a mate who loved her so much. A stray tear trickled down her cheek.

Don kissed it away, before twirling his fingers inside her making her squeal. “Hey, now, darlin’, unless you’re cryin’ because you can’t believe how amazin’ I am in bed, let’s have none of that.”

Kayleigh burst into laughter. “God, I love you, cowboy.”

“And I love you. Now, then, wasn’t there some talk about testin’ out this bed?” His beast was crooning for their mate.

Kayleigh and Don spent the rest of Christmas Eve testing the bed.
To the point where it actually collapsed.
The manager of the hotel was pretty annoyed, but Kayleigh thought it was hilarious.

As much as he’d been dreading it, Don was actually going to enjoy Christmas in Texas.
Hell, he’d probably enjoy Christmas in the Bermuda Triangle, if Kayleigh was with him.
She made life worth living.
Mine
.

Kira & Gabe – Secret Admirer

24
th
December

“No! Shoo! Go away!”

Gabe North groaned as the horse refused to leave him alone. He could swear the beast was smiling at him. The horse nuzzled his shoulder and whinnied, while Gabe tensely tried to pretend he was fine with it.

He did not get along with horses
.

His wolf grumbled at the affectionate horse. Gabe would like to pretend that the reason he didn’t get along with horses was because he was a wolf shifter. But no, his mate was a wolf shifter, and she could practically whisper them into submission. The truth is, he just couldn’t get along with big, willful animals.

He tried to explain that to his mate Kira. She just snickered, and wickedly told him that he managed to get along with his pack Alpha and Beta.
Even though she was an Omega, his mate sure was feisty
.

His spirited little mate was currently leading a pony round the paddock, while trying not to fall over laughing at seeing his current predicament.

They were in New Mexico to spend Christmas with Kira’s family. After leaving their own Alpha’s wedding celebration the night before, he, his mate and his mate’s twin Lilah, who had been the Alpha’s wedding photographer, caught a plane to New Mexico.

Lilah was a little quiet and skittish. She had always been a little quiet, and the skittishness wasn’t that unexpected,
given everything she been through over the past couple of years…
But she seemed more agitated than when they last saw her, and Kira was a little worried. Whenever asked, Lilah assured them she was fine though, and Kira didn’t want to pressure her sister.

When they arrived at Kira’s childhood home, Gabe was met with a warm welcome. Kira’s parents, Mari and Jesse, were delighted by their new son-in-law, and Kira’s younger sisters Hanna and Nina were just bouncier versions of Kira. Kira’s heart swelled to see all her family together again, and even more so to see how much they adored her new mate.

Kira’s family ran a pack owned horse stable; Kira grew up around horses and loved them. When she was younger, she shared one with her twin, they called it Thundercat.
Gabe chuckled at that
.

That day, Mari was rushing around visiting pack members, and doing last minute shopping, while Jesse ran the stables. A favorite Christmas gift was a certificate for horse riding lessons, so Christmas tended to be quite busy. Helpfully,
or unhelpfully in Gabe’s opinion
, Kira volunteered the two of them to assist her father.
Hence, his current situation
.

“Ugh, disgusting!”
The horse licked him
. His wolf yowled in disapproval.

Gabe huffed in annoyance; he saw that Kira was now rolling around on the ground laughing. Gabe grumbled as he led the overly friendly Lightning Bolt back to his stall.

Kira finished her riding lesson and watched gleefully as the little girl with pigtails ran back to her parents, squealing about how much she wanted a pony. Her wolf yipped.
One day she and Gabe would have a pup like that, although she doubted Gabe would give in and get a horse for their little one
.

Smiling, she walked back to the stables. Gabe scowled at her happy face.

She sauntered past him, patting his gorgeous ass. “Oh, buck up, Bambi, it’s just one day.”

“You wouldn’t be saying that if it was something you didn’t want to do. What if I insisted that we… umm… that we go white water rafting?”

Kira raised her eyebrows. “I’d be a little scared, but I’d do it anyway, because you wanted to do it.” A worried look flitted over her features. “We’re not really doing that though, are we?”

“Hell no, you wouldn’t catch me on a boat.”

Kira breathed a sigh of relief. “Where’s my dad?”

“Your mom called; she wanted him home for something. I said we could manage.”

Kira licked her lips. “So, we’re all alone then?”

Gabe snorted. “Yeah, just me, you and twenty horses.”

She put her hands on his shoulders; her lips curled up. “Making love in a stable is sexy, Kayleigh told me she has loads of fantasies about her and Don doing this.”

He groaned. “Great, now all I can think about is Don.”

Kira pulled him down for a passionate kiss, hungrily tasting her mate. She panted as she pulled away. “Yeah, you’re right. I’m not turned on at all either.”

Gabe growled throatily before scooping her up in his arms. Desire shot through his body, flowing into hers as his erection grew and strained against his jeans. She squealed as he strode to the nearest, unoccupied stall.

He sat her down on a hay bale and feverishly began kissing and licking her neck, sending warm jolts through her. Her wolf howled excitedly as he roared.

His hands traveled down her body, cupping and kneading her lush breasts before alighting on her jeans. The button and the zip were undone seconds before Gabe flipped her onto her stomach, leaning over the hay. She gasped as, with breathtaking speed, he pulled her jeans and panties down.

Kira cooed as she heard his zipper go, and felt his hot flesh press against her. He dipped his fingers through her folds and sought her wet channel. She pushed back as he thrust his fingers into her, twirling and stroking.

She mewled as he pulled away, but soon moaned as she felt the thick head of his cock nudge her entrance.

Gabe sunk his fingers into her hips. His eyes were amber with lust as his wolf howled at him to take her. “You ready, flower?”

“God, yessss….” she breathed.

With one hard plunge he took her to the hilt. Kira hissed as he mercilessly filled her. He held flush against her round, smooth ass for a few seconds, enjoying the tightness of her inner muscles, before pulling back and driving inside her.

Kira moaned as he forcefully thrust into her core again and again. Her fingers dug into the hay as Gabe took her with long, hard thrusts. She turned her head to watch him out of the corner of her eyes. With his dark, amber eyes, he looked so beautiful, yet powerful, towering over her. Her climax was tantalizingly within reach. She clenched her inner muscles, clutching at him as he dragged in and out of her.

Gabe growled and sped up his movements, crashing into her body like a wolf possessed. He reached under her and flicked her tender clit. Kira screamed as her orgasm flooded her body, and white, hot heat permeated every inch. She jerked underneath him, her inner walls suckling him, as she sent him her feelings of ecstasy through their bond. Her wolf roared in pleasure.

Gabe bellowed her name, as he swelled and came inside his mate. His wolf roared as his seed exploded in her body and another smaller release cascaded through her. She cried out as her wolf yipped for their mate.

Their bodies trembled as they came down from the high of their orgasms. Gabe leaned over her back, lazily licking the bonding mark. Mate.
Mine
.

*

Gabe and Kira walked home from the stables hand in hand, stopping occasionally to kiss and pull a bit of hay out of their hair and clothes.

Nearing the house, Kira shivered. “Something’s wrong.”

She hurried to the house, pulling Gabe with her. They found Lilah crying, while her family argued.

“Hey!” yelled Kira. “What’s going on?”

Everyone quieted for a few seconds before all talking at once.

Gabe let out a whistle. “Alright, that’s enough.”

Her family was silent under Gabe’s commanding presence. Kira felt inordinately proud of her mate, trying to ignore the fluttering of her sex.

Gabe sat by Lilah, gently asking her what was happening.

Lilah sniffled. “It started a week ago… I started getting flowers and gifts. They came with these notes…”

Gabe shuffled through the various notes, invariably saying, ‘I’m thinking of you’, or ‘you grow more beautiful every time I see you.’ Lilah stiltedly explained she had freaked out, irrationally worrying that her abusive ex-husband was still alive. She had hidden it from her family, too afraid to admit what it might mean.

Her mom had taken a flower delivery for her earlier that day, and the truth had come out.
Now the whole family was panicking.

Kira hugged her twin, soothing Lilah with her Omega abilities.

Gabe smiled at her kindly. “These aren’t from Joseph. He’s gone, I promise you that.”

Lilah nodded, wiping away a tear. “I know that, honestly I do… but I just… I was just scared. I mean, it’s not Joseph, but it could easily be one of his pack members.”

Gabe inspected the notes. It was of course a possibility that it was one of her old pack members, but why would they bother? After what happened in Rose, they were under scrutiny from the Council of Supernaturals, it seemed unlikely they would risk anything to send Lilah flowers.

Gabe showed Kira one of the notes, pointing to the logo. “Do you know what this means?”

Kira frowned. “It’s for a shop in town called Honey Blossoms, next to the Diner.”

“All the flowers were from there; I’m going to the shop to see if they remember who ordered the flowers.”

Gabe got up and strode to the front door with Kira hot on his heels. “I’m coming too.”

His wolf grumbled.
If there was a chance this was dangerous, no way did he want his mate going with him.
Gabe ran a thumb over her bonding mark. “No, flower, you stay here. You need to soothe your sister, and just in case someone is after her, she needs all the protection she can get.”

In truth, every instinct he had told him that this was the work of some love struck admirer.
Not a stalker.

Kira pouted prettily. “What about you?”

He grinned widely. “I’m a police officer; trust me, I know what I’m doing.”

“You damn well better, Bambi.”

Gabe kissed the tip of her nose. “You just worry about your sister, I’ll be back soon.”

*

Gabe casually walked into Honey Blossoms. The place looked almost ravaged.
Apparently flowers at Christmas were popular round there.

Gabe’s wolf stilled as he scented bear.

“Hi, sorry, we’re closing.” A tall, broad bear shifter emerged from the tiny back room. His friendly grin faltered when he scented Gabe.

Gabe gave the bear his most dazzling smile. “Hi there, I’m Gabe North. Pleased to meet you.”

“Tommy Cole,” the bear grunted in response.

Gabe figured him to be a few years younger than him, maybe about Kira’s age. His eyes were shifting around the shop, and he was sweating lightly. Ever since Gabe became a Sheriff’s Deputy, he noticed people tended to be more nervous around him. Even when he didn’t identify himself as a cop, people seemed to sense it.
Like they had cop radar - cop-dar!

Gabe tapped his fingers on the counter, eyeing the nervous, young bear dispassionately. “I was wondering if you could help me.”

Tommy folded his arms over an impressive chest. Gabe stood at six feet tall, but the bear had at least eight inches on him. Gabe guessed most people balked at the bear’s size;
Gabe wasn’t most people.

“You a new member of the pack?” asked Tommy gruffly.

Gabe considered it couldn’t hurt to tell him the truth. “Actually, I’m mated to a former member of the pack; we’re visiting her family for Christmas. Kira, Kira Norton. Do you know her?”

Tommy blushed a deep crimson. “Yes, I umm, I used to date her sister.”

Gabe cocked his head on one side. “Lilah?”

Tommy chewed on his cheek but didn’t say anything.

Gabe tried to hide his smile;
everything fell into place
. He cleared his throat and tried to be severe with the young bear.

“Lilah’s has been receiving threats…”

“What?!” the bear yelled, eyes popping in fury. “Who? Who has been threatening her?” he demanded irately.

Gabe held out his hands. “I don’t know, but whoever it is has been sending her flowers from here.”

“No, no that can’t be. I’d have known; the only person who has sent her anything from here is…” Tommy’s eyes widened, and he spluttered.

Gabe arched an eyebrow. “You?”

Tommy looked guilty, and Gabe nodded.

“So, you’ve been sending Lilah flowers and gifts, thinking that it’s romantic, and Lilah has been getting flowers and gifts, and thinking they’re from a stalker.”

“That wasn’t… I mean, I didn’t… I didn’t mean to scare her. I heard about everything she went through, and I just wanted to let her know how I felt without pressuring her.”

The wolf snorted.
Silly bear
. “Why didn’t you just sign your name then?”

If possible, Tommy looked even guiltier.

“What is it?” asked Gabe impatiently.

“It was when I went to college; I had a football scholarship, and I was kind of a big deal… I sort of… well…”