A Wolf's Fate (A BBW Shapeshifter Romance): The Holiday Ball (8 page)

Autumn reached up and touched the corner of his mouth. “I like it when you do that.”

He brought her fingers to his lips. “I promise I’ll do it a lot more with you around.” Using his grip on her hand, he turned her to him, dropping to one knee before her.

He savored her startled gasp as she realized what was about to happen. Still holding her hand, he managed to dig the blue velvet box from the pocket of his tuxedo jacket and flip open the lid.

Inside the ring case was a solitaire diamond engagement ring in a gold setting. It had belonged to his grandmother and had been given to him upon her death a few years ago. She had understood the need inside him and his wolf to bring justice to the world better than anyone. His grandfather had been an enforcer. She had told him it would take a special woman to love him. Looking up at Autumn’s tear-filled green eyes, he knew she would have thought Autumn very special.

“Autumn. You have brought me back my wolf. Mended half of my soul and given me the other half that has been missing since I entered this world. I have claimed you as my mate and will protect you with all that I have. I ask that you allow me to join with you as your husband, to love you as only a man can love a woman.”

Autumn hadn’t known what to say or do when Gunner had pulled her behind him across the dance floor and onto the small stage. Her heart started to pound so hard, she was afraid she would faint.

She had no doubt that they were indeed mates. The throbbing bite mark on her neck told her she’d been claimed, but she’d never expected this. A proposal of marriage and certainly not one in front of a crowd of people.

“Come on, Autumn, don’t leave me hanging here.” Muscles flexed in his brawny arms as he leaned forward, stretching the material of his tux jacket. He flashed her a startling white smile. Made more startling since she knew he didn’t smile often. The grin told her he was more than confident in her answer.

“I should, just to see what you would do.”

Gunner growled, but didn’t move from his kneeling position on the floor. “I’d pick you up and carry you back upstairs and convince you why you needed to say yes.” He stared her straight in the eye. “Or, I’d pick you up and bend you over my knee and smack your big, beautiful ass in front of all these curious people.”

The shifters closest to the stage roared with laughter, some making crude catcalls and whistles.

“You wouldn’t dare,” she challenged him, her eyes narrowing. He could still see the sparkle in them though.

If it wouldn’t have meant baring her big bottom to the all the men in the room, he would have proven to her he was a man of his word. And, if she didn’t answer him soon, he would do just that.

“Autumn,” he warned again even though his wolf was eager to dominate his mate.

“Don’t worry, my big, bad wolf. I love you and there’s nothing I want more than to have you as my mate. As my husband. Thank you.” They both knew she was referring to this very public display he had been willing to make on her behalf.

He wasted no time pushing the ring on her finger. Autumn’s legs chose that moment to give out. He caught her just as she collapsed. Grabbing one of her wrists, he pulled her forward and scooped her over his shoulder. Hanging upside down, she clutched the back of his tux in silent shock as he carried her off the stage to a round of thunderous applause.

Then she smiled. She knew exactly where her wolf was taking her and she couldn’t wait.

He was about to show her just what a big, bad wolf he really was.

Continue enjoying The Holiday Ball as two more wolves find their mates…and discover claiming them isn’t as easy as it appears in
A Wolf’s Claim and A Wolf’s Desire

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…

Marie Mason has always known, somewhere deep in her soul, that being a writer was what she was born to be. Thanks to the new and exciting world of self-publishing, Marie was finally able to make her dream come true. Part two of the dream is to be a full-time writer, spending the wee hours of morning creating new and exciting characters for her readers. That part might take a little longer. If you’d like to contact her with a comment or suggestion, her email is
[email protected]
or you can find her on Facebook.

THE HOLIDAY BALL: A WOLF’S CLAIM

Hayden’s first official duty as alpha of the Barringer Pack was hosting the Holiday Ball. A Christmas dance that allowed single supernaturals to find a true-mate—or just hook-up. Hayden had avoided the events for years, not ready to take a mate. This year, he’d had no choice. That didn’t mean he wasn’t going to enjoy himself. And the curvy witch hiding in the shadows looked like just the delectable morsel for his hungry wolf.

Amber hated coming to the Holiday Balls. She left feeling sadder and lonelier than ever before. She’d accepted the fact that Santa wasn’t going to hand her a mate wrapped in a pretty red bow. If not for the edict from her grandmother, the coven’s matriarch, she wouldn’t be here tonight.

Of course, she’d have to thank her grandmother later…

EXCERPT:

“Can I ask where we’re going?”

“Upstairs.”

“Oh, is it that kind of party?” She licked her lips. She’d never been to one, but she’d heard stories of the sex parties wolves liked to throw. And The Holiday Ball was probably the biggest of them all.

He took the stairs two at a time, swiftly navigating the circular staircase. She grew dizzy again as they moved. The embossed wallpaper seemed to be swirling around them in a silvery haze. Why the heck was she so tipsy after only two glasses of champagne? Or had it been three?

When they neared the top of the staircase, the wolf slowed as he looked down at her. “Would you mind if it was that kind of a party?”

He was so handsome. And big. She ran her hands over the tops of his broad shoulders. She’d said and done that before, hadn’t she? She wanted to lick him all over, starting with the strong, tanned column of his throat. “Not if I’m with you.”

He let out a growl so loud it sounded like a howl. It did echo off the walls and she was positive everyone downstairs had heard it. Any other time she would have winced, imagining what others would think if they had seen her leave the ballroom with this man.

But not this time.

This time the goody-good witch was ready for some adventure.

THE BLACKWOOD BROTHERS, BOOK 1

When Quinn Blackwood thought it was time to go hunting for his mate, he couldn’t believe fate handed her to him on his very first blind date. His family thought it was a hilarious turn of events since the big bear shifter had been looking forward to sowing a few more wild oats before settling down with his one true mate. No one was laughing when Paige got the wrong idea and believed Quinn was just looking for a good time.

Paige Matthews had finally given into the cajoling of her co-worker and agreed to a blind date with the woman’s brother. Paige admired the family of bear shifters and had nursed a secret crush on the oldest Blackwood brother, Quinn, since moving to town. Even though she’d known the odds were against it, she was terribly disappointed that she wasn’t his true mate. She did however, decide to take him up on his offer of a good time, cause this good-girl craved the bear’s sweet loving.

EXCERPT:

Quinn did more than give her a casual look. He turned on the padded barstool, giving her his full attention. He tried not to let his mouth hang open or show her his bear panting with need. She was cock-hardening tempting even if she was dressed ultra conservative in that white button-up blouse and black slacks. Nothing form fitting or eye-catching about her outfit. The only concession she’d made to dressing for a date were the earrings dangling from her shell-like earlobes. They were black and sparkled with each movement of her head and enticed him to look at the sweet curve where her neck and shoulder met. The place most shifters marked their mates. He wondered if she would taste as sweet and satisfying as he imagined.

Okay, slow down, buddy
, he told himself. That was two overly possessive type thoughts he’d had about this woman in less than ten minutes. Yes, he’d felt the instant attraction, the instant awareness that this woman was his. His bear was closer to the surface than it had ever been in his life. Inside, he heard the animal whisper to the man.

Mine. Take. Mate.

He stood up and faced her. Like he said, his size intimidated most women. One good look might be enough to scare her away. His bear didn’t like the thought of that.

The man knew she might take one look and run. Yeah, he liked larger women—make that freaking loved women of size—and Paige fit the bill with big boobs and a big butt. Besides the attraction, though, he needed a woman who could go toe-to-toe with him, giving as good as she got. While bears might appear laid back and easygoing, they could be, well, a bear to live with. He didn’t want a shy, mousy woman who’d let him run roughshod all over her. Dominate her—hell yeah.

What were his sisters and mother always telling him and the twins? There was a fine line between being dominating and domineering. Sometimes shifter males learned that difference the hard way.

Before he could say anything, he saw her head turn, her green eyes watching his every movement as he rose. Her gaze raked him from top to bottom and back up again before she spoke.

“You’re very big.”

Oh, baby,
he thought
, you don’t know the half of it.

THE BLACKWOOD BROTHERS, BOOK 2.5

PAIGE’S BOSSY BEAR

They said the road to true love could be rocky. Quinn’s courtship of Paige was covered with huge freaking boulders!

Paige Matthews had finally found her one true love, bear shifter named Quinn Blackwood. Raised by an elderly aunt, she has never relied on anyone for anything. Adjusting to a big bear shifter—a big, bossy, bear shifter—was taking some getting used to. Especially, when he insisted they move in together. She didn’t know why she was hesitating. Fate had given her everything she’d ever desired. What it hadn’t done was provide an instruction manual on her to handle her alpha male bear.

One blind date had revealed Paige was indeed Quinn Blackwood’s true mate and he couldn’t be happier with the curvy beauty. Circumstances had placed her in danger and his bear on the edge. Now that the danger had passed, the man—and the bear—was having a difficult time giving her the space she needed.

EXCERPT:

Boy, would the twins give him hell if they knew he had a beautiful woman in his house and all he wanted to do was gather her in his arms and take a nap. If this was what being mated did to a bear…he was all for it. He wanted to pick her up and settle her across his lap. Or across his knee until she agreed to move in with him. That thought had his cock stirring to life and he clenched his fists, resisting the urge to scoop her up in his arms and carry her upstairs. Two things prevented him from doing just that. He smelled like the devil himself and she looked tired as hell.

A small measure of guilt crept up inside him. He knew why she looked so damn tired. She hadn’t had a full night’s sleep since they’d mated. He loved her well into the night, reaching for her time after time until dawn streaked across the sky. She never said no, as eager for his touch as he was for hers.

His instincts were telling him he needed to pull back. But he couldn’t. Other, more formidable instincts, were telling him to take her. Fuck her. Mate her.

He knew why. And he knew the hunger wouldn’t be slated until he’d planted his seed inside her belly. Then, his bear could rest.

Turning sharply on his heel, he took the stairs two out at a time, away from temptation.

Perhaps it
was
time to toss her over his shoulder and show her just how bossy this bear could be.

THE BLACKWOOD BROTHERS ARE BACK… BOOK 3

Ryland and Ryker Blackwood were twins. Identical, thigh clenching bear shifter twins who had no trouble getting women into their beds. Or bed. They’d shared just about everything in life—even their women.

The scent of the cat shifter they found on their construction site was driving both Blackwood brothers crazy with lust. Or was it? Every time they thought they were getting closer to finding the woman who would be their mate, one of their bears backed away. The hot and cold feeling they were getting from their animals was confusing the shit out of them.

Was the cat shifter meant for one of them or both of them?

This is a longer story at 70,000 - cause Ryker and Ryland are up to some nice naughtiness!!

EXCERPT:

“You mean a list of rules, don’t you?”

“You betcha. Got a problem with that?”

“Yeah, I do.”

Oh, how he loved the stubborn set of her jaw. But first things first. He yanked his shirt over his head to give to her. A small laugh escaped him as he helped her dress.

“What the hell do find funny at this particular moment, bear boy?” She managed to push her arms through the sleeves and yanked the shirt down as far as it would go.

“I was remembering your comment about not being my Barbie doll.” He eased her hair from the collar of the shirt, smoothing it behind her ears. “And now I’m dressing you.”

“Well, don’t get used to it.”