Series: Shifter Ops Series by Renee Rose
Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 65371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
We both played it off in the kitchen like I hadn’t just been about to push his mom back on the counter and feast between her legs until she screamed her throat raw.
It’s Friday night, so we run extra long, stopping at the ridge to practice shifting. I teach him how to track a deer and stop him from following the bobcat whose scent he caught. Of course, he could win a fight with a bobcat, but there’s no reason to hunt another predator.
After the run, we shift and dress and eat a second dinner on the freshly-sanded deck. It’s late and the house is dark. Julia’s already gone to bed.
When we finish, we sit in relaxed companionship.
“I, uh…” I clear my throat. “I should tell you about shifter mating.”
“That’s okay,” Geo says quickly. Because what kid wants to have the sex talk with an adult he barely knows and who’s macking on his mom?
“Wolves mate for life. Shifter wolves have fated mates. The one mate intended by nature as the perfect match.”
Geo stops pretending to ignore me and swivels his head to meet my gaze.
I give a nod. “Some wolves never find their fated mate. They mate anyway, raise families and can live in total happiness.”
He continues to watch me, perhaps waiting for me to get to the point.
“If or when you meet your fated mate, you’ll know, because you’ll have the urge to mark her.”
Geo’s forehead scrunches in confusion.
“Your fangs will come down coated with a serum unique to you. You’ll bite her and permanently embed your scent into her flesh, so every other male will know she’s been marked and belongs to you.”
Geo draws back in shock.
I plunge forward because it’s important Geo understand these things. He’s a wolf. Some day, I hope he will find his own fated mate.
“Your mom… she was your dad’s fated mate.”
“Your brother.”
“That’s right.”
“What about you?” His eyes catch the moonlight. I already love this kid so much. I don’t know how I could have ever stayed away.
I clear my throat. “Your mom is also my fated mate. That’s why I stayed away. I found out right after your dad died, and it was too soon. Your mom needed time to grieve, and I needed to grow up.”
“How old were you?”
“Nineteen.”
He bobs his head, absorbing all this without much expression. “So you’re going to mark my mom? Or you already have?” He scrunches up his face with disgust. “Nevermind–I don’t want to know.”
I give him an affectionate smile. “Your mom hasn’t even forgiven me for staying away so long. But if it happens, you’ll know.” I touch my nose.
“Right. I’ll smell it. Gross.”
My grin widens. “It’s not gross. It’s wolf nature. It’s our form of a wedding ring.”
Geo loops his long, lanky arms around his knees. “Cool.”
“Is it, bud?”
He shrugs. “Yeah.”
“I didn’t…I never felt worthy of stepping into my brother’s shoes. I know I can’t do that. But…I’m here for you, Geo. No matter what happens between me and your mom, you can depend on me. I want you to know that.” I fight to swallow down the lump in my throat. This is so much bigger than my intense attraction to Julia. This is about Geo. And the promise I made my brother. “You’re my blood. My family. My pack.”
Geo climbs to his feet like I didn’t just bare my soul–admit the thing I’ve been avoiding for the past ten years. “Cool. I’m going to bed.”
“Good night, Junior.”
“Night.”
I climb to my feet and go to wash up. Julia appears in the open doorway of the bathroom wearing a pair of miniscule sleep shorts and a thin tank top. She rests her hands on either side of the door frame, causing her breasts to lift and separate, shifting beneath the thin fabric of her nightshirt. It’s a clear invitation, and it’s all I can do to stop from claiming her right where she stands.
She sucks in a sharp breath, probably noticing the change in color of my irises.
“Looks like you might need my help again,” I rumble.
A sultry smile curves her lips. “I do.”
Julia
Channing crooks a finger at me, and I walk forward, dropping my arms to my sides. As soon as I’m within reaching distance, he settles his hands on my waist.
It feels so good to be touched again.
I didn’t realize how badly I needed this.
I honestly don’t know what’s going to happen between me and Channing. He's done his share of shocking me. Disappearing. Staying away for ten years. Reappearing and claiming I’m his mate.
I’m having a hard time reconciling it all. I think I need to just forget the young man who left here so long ago and just get to know this Channing.
The grown-up, dominant in the bedroom, nurturing to my son, Channing.
A guy I really don’t know.
We need a complete restart.