He hands me to an older man so he can get out. “Andi, meet Warren, the second-in-command to my alpha.”

  I smile at Warren. “Thank you for rescuing me.”

  He grins back. “I always wanted to drive the getaway car.”

  Esher takes me from him and says, “Let’s get her inside. I need to make sure she’s really okay.”

  I say, “I’m fine. All they did was pump about a liter of Mia’s blood into me.”

  Warren opens the door to Esher’s house, and I’m carried to the couch before Esher sets me down. The two men fuss over me as I insist I’m okay. My ankle is only a slight sprain and should be healed in a day or two. Once the cut on my forehead is clean Esher says, “I’m sorry. It’s too late to stitch this, and you’re going to have a scar.”

  I reach up and place my hand on his cheek. “It’s fine. Every time I see it I’ll remember you’re my hero.”

  Esher places his hand on mine. “And it will always remind me of how precious you are, Andi. I’ve never been more afraid in my life than I was today when I realized you’d been taken.”

  A door thuds softly, and I think Warren has left us alone. I say, “I want to know how you managed to rescue us, but first I need you to kiss me and make me feel alive.”

  Esher leans down without a word and does just that.

  Thirteen

  Mia, Esher’s brother Ekton, and Paul, the alpha, arrive later in the evening to explain everything to me. Mia was kidnapped just after she received my call, but because werewolves can communicate telepathically with their alpha and their mate, Mia was able to let Ekton and Paul know what was happening. She kept them updated even when she was gagged and restrained. Dr. Sand and her goons have been turned over to the authorities, and Paul assured me the pack’s lawyer has plenty of ways to keep them detained in prison for years.

  I hug my dear friend before she leaves. “Mia, thank you for your part in rescuing me.”

  “I guess that makes us even,” she says. “I’ll never forget how you saved me and Ekton from the men in black last semester.”

  “This means we can spend time together again. I’ve missed you.”

  “It most definitely does. I have a feeling we’re going to be seeing a lot of each other now.” She darts her eyes over to Esher before she winks at me.

  Ekton hugs me lightly and says, “I sure hope so. My mother’s going to love you. She has a thing for smart girls.”

  Esher says, “Hey, don’t spoil my surprise.”

  Ekton’s motorcycle rumbles away as Esher wraps his arms around me in an embrace and asks, “How are you feeling?”

  “About the same.” The cotton of his T-shirt is soft as I rub my hand over his shoulder. “I don’t think Mia’s blood made a difference.”

  He nods. “Lucky for you, I have a solution.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  His stare is intense when he asks, “What do you know about true mates?”

  Oh my god. Is Esher my true mate? “They mate for life?”

  “They do.” Our gaze locks as he says, “You’re my true mate, Andi.”

  “Oh.” I’m trapped in Esher’s blue eyes as I process that he loves me as much as I love him.

  “And that means once we bond we’ll never fall out of love. I can promise you a life with a mate you’ll never want to be without.”

  “Do I become a werewolf?”

  “Yes. But I think you might want to, because that’s how we’re going to cure your cancer.”

  I frown at him, and he continues. “Mia no longer wears glasses now that she’s been changed, and we’ve noticed other health issues disappear too.”

  “So you think changing will cure me?”

  “I do.” Esher rubs his thumb over my lower lip, and I tilt my chin up in response as he says, “Before you start to question why I want to change you, know that a life without you as my mate would make me miserable. I love you, Andi.”

  I lick my lips and say, “I love you too.” I pull him down for a kiss I need as much as air to breathe. I pour my love for him into it so he won’t doubt my intentions either. When we break apart I say, “Yes. I want to be your mate in every way. Bite me, Esher.”

  He winks at me. “There’s a theory in the Winter Valley pack that the best time to bite a female is during orgasm. Want to test it out?”

  “I think the word experiment might be one of the sexiest things you can suggest to a scientist.” I reach under his shirt and slide my hands up his chest. “Sign me up.”

  Esher tugs his tee over his head and lets out a low growl. “Get naked, woman. We’ve got some testing to do.”

  I chuckle as I work on the waistband of my jeans. And just like the other night, I don’t want much foreplay, so as soon as we’re both nude I grab his cock and grip it hard as I say, “Don’t waste any time. I need you to fill me.”

  Esher holds my hips and directs me to the arm of the couch as I hobble. He turns me so that he’s behind me, and he slides his hands over my bottom. “Bend over, Andi, and let me appreciate this incredible ass.”

  I lean over the extra-wide arm of his couch and support my upper body with my arms on the cushions as Esher groans and drops to his knees. He licks my slit, and I quiver with lust as I let out little cries of appreciation. He’s relentless, and I’m about to climax when he stops. I whimper before I beg. “Esher, please.”

  The tip of his cock teases my entrance as he says, “I love you.”

  “I love you too, but for the love of g—” I gasp as he thrusts all the way into me. Sweet friction makes me arch to meet him as he pumps quickly. His hand wraps around my hair, and he tugs my head up to kiss me. My mate’s tongue plunges into my mouth, and I suck hungrily before my approaching orgasm makes me stop and pant out, “Now.”

  Just as I begin to come, white-hot pain sears my shoulder, and I know Esher’s teeth have sunk into my flesh. Heat races through my veins as my mate explodes in me with his own release.

  Esher collapses over me and cups my breasts with his hands. He swirls a finger over my nipple, and tiny aftershocks of pleasure quake in me as he licks my wound. I sigh at the sensation of contentment. He says, “You’re mine now, and I’m yours.”

  A delightful tingling surges through me, and I inhale sharply as I imagine it’s the cure. “Esher.” He lifts off of me, and when I stand, my ankle no longer hurts. I raise my foot to twist it around and then set it back down to apply full weight. I say, “Oh my god, you did heal me.”

  I glance at my arms and discover all the bruises are gone. “Look.”

  Esher slides his finger over the cut above my brow. “Even this is faint.” He gazes into my eyes. “Should we go to your house and test your blood?”

  I shake my head. “I don’t need to. Not now. I want to shift first and test out my wolf.”

  My true mate smiles at me and says, “Of course you do. Mimic my movements, and think about the animal inside you. She’ll let you know she’s there.”

  I let out a low growl that I’m sure isn’t human and then say, “She already has.” I pace in a small circle the way Esher does and embrace the odd feelings of pain and pleasure that course through me as my body shifts. When I’m done, I gaze around the room with my heightened sense and speak in my head, hoping it’s how to communicate telepathically with Esher. “Let’s run.”

  “Right this way.”

  I let out a squeal and follow my mate as he pushes his way through the screen door to get outside where we can run free. Pain is nonexistent, and my powerful legs flex and extend with strength beyond anything I’ve ever experienced. My energy level seems endless as we race around the perimeter of the lake, and it’s a wonderful feeling after months of being weak and tired. The moon is full tonight, but I think my animal vision is acute enough I’d be fine without the light.

  We finally stop when we get to a large rock, and I leap up easily to join Esher at the top. I’d expect to be panting with the exertion of our exercise, but find I’m breathing easily as I lean against my mate. “I love this.”

  “I thought you might. Welcome to my world, Andi. I’m thrilled to be able to share it with you.”

  “Thanks.” I nuzzle his neck with my snout, and the scent of his musk that used to be faint is now magnified. I find it intoxicating, and I long to be with him again as a human. “Take me home, Esher. I have a few more experiments in mind.”

  He hops off the rock and says, “One willing subject at your service.”

  I say, “One true mate at yours.”

  Fourteen

  I gaze out at the sun rising over Silver Lake. It sparkles on the water the way my ring sparkles in light. I lift my hand to look at my diamond one more time as Esher calls out from the kitchen. “Ouch!” He mutters a few obscenities under his breath that my wolf ears detect before he says, “Andi. Come save me from the cat from hell.”

  I turn toward the kitchen and discover Snowflake curling around Esher’s ankle. “Aw, she’s trying to make up.” I moved in with Esher a week after I became a werewolf. It’s closing in on two months now, and Snowflake is finally adjusting to her new home and roommate.

  “That’s because I just told her I was going to trade her in for a dog,” says Esher. He pulls the bowl of potato salad I made out of the fridge, and it thumps on the counter.

  I grin at my true mate and fiancé as I walk toward him. “I think you secretly like her.”

  Esher asks, “How old is she again?” I wrap my arms around his waist as he adds, “How many years of this do I have left?”

  “She’s still adjusting to the fact that her human now smells like you.” I slide my hand up his chest slowly, and the ridges of his defined muscles are hard under my palm as I move it around his neck. I let out a low growl. “A natural predator.”

  “I think she blames me for it too.” Esher nibbles on my lower lip. “Did you tell her you asked me to bite you?”

  I nip at his neck and taste the slight salty flavor of him. “I did. But the silly cat doesn’t understand English.”

  “Figures.” He kisses me and breaks away with a sigh. “My family’s waiting.”

  I step away from him and place my hands on my stomach. “I’m still not sure we should tell them.”

  “Are you kidding? My mother is going to be thrilled. She can’t wait to be a grandmother.” Keys jingle as he grabs them from the hook.

  “She won’t care that we’re not married yet?” I ask as I grab my purse.

  “Nope.” The screen door squeaks as he opens it for me. “We werewolves are quite modern that way.”

  I chuckle. “Okay. You can share the news.” We’re on our way to a family dinner. Mia and Ekton will be there as well as Esher’s middle brother Ergan and his mate Kayla. I’m looking forward to the easy conversations with my new family.

  Esher’s parents live less than a mile away, and our drive is quick. We let ourselves in, and voices carry from the kitchen. I recognize them as Mia and Esher’s mother, Betsy. I communicate with my mate. “Can we tell your mom first?”

  “Yes.” When Betsy notices us, he kisses her on the cheek and whispers in her ear.

  Mia and I can both hear him tell her I’m pregnant, and I grin when Betsy’s eyes get wide. She shoves him out of the way to come hug me. “I’m so thrilled for you. Oh my goodness.” She’s not a small woman, and her embrace is strong. I laugh at her excitement. She pulls away and says, “This is such great news.” She turns from me and yells, “Ted! Get in here!”

  Mia hugs me too. “Congratulations. I’m really happy for you.”

  “Thanks,” I say. Esher is on the other side of the kitchen, leaning against the counter. A cap clinks on the surface when he opens a beer.

  Betsy frowns at him. “What? You don’t think the mother of your child deserves refreshment? Get the girl a drink.”

  Esher winks at me as he pulls a bottle of lemonade from behind his back. I shake my head at the way he loves to tease his mother. Ted Wakefield comes in, and his sparkling blue eyes fit his playful personality. “What are you squawking about, woman?”

  Betsy hits his stomach with the back of her hand. “You, old man, are about to become a grandfather. What do you think about that?”

  Ted grabs me around the waist, lifts me off the ground, and swings me in a circle as he whoops. He sets me down and says, “I think I’m going to get little feet running around my house and someone one who will laugh at my jokes.” The silver-haired man gazes into my eyes. “Congratulations, Andi.”

  “Thanks.” I glance over at Esher as he sips on his beer, and I say, “I did have a little help with all of this.”

  Betsy snorts. “Right. He did the easy part. But don’t you worry. I didn’t raise a man afraid of changing diapers.”

  Esher asks, “What? Doesn’t anyone in this room remember I’m a pediatrician?”

  Mia shakes her head as she says, “Oh Esher, Esher, Esher. You have so much to learn.”

  I walk over and lean against his side as he puts an arm around my waist. I say, “I love this family.” He leans down to kiss me.

  We follow Betsy and Ted out to the patio behind the house and answer questions about the baby from the rest of the family. Our meal comes together with help from everyone, and it happens seamlessly. As Ted entertains Kayla with a story about her husband as a baby, I take a moment to reflect on my life. I think back to how I spent the last few years fighting to keep the Silver Lake wolves safe. I was so obsessed with making up for my mistake that it never occurred to me werewolves had been fighting the same battle for decades. And that they were capable of protecting themselves. I realize that I should have been working with them all these years.

  I smile as I recall my conversation with our alpha, Paul Ryan. He asked me to work on research for the pack and other werewolves across the country. Doors to a whole new scientific world have been opened up to me.

  My mate laughs at something his father said, and I gaze at the man who warms me all the way to my toes when we touch. He’s my hero, and the man I’m going to love for the rest of my life. We’re going to raise a family together, as a team.

  I place my hand on Esher’s thigh and lean in to speak softly in his ear. “I don’t think I could be any happier than I am right now.”

  He puts an arm around my shoulders, and his breath tickles my ear as he says, “You’ve made me incredibly happy too. I love you, Dr. Thompson.”

  “Wait, you mean Dr. Wakefield.”

  “You’d take my name?” He leans toward me so our noses touch.

  “I belong to you, remember?” I place my hand on his cheek, and the slight stubble of his day-old beard is rough against my skin.

  “We belong to each other. I love you, Andi.”

  “I love you too, Esher.” I kiss him quickly before one of his brothers throws something at us. But I’m too late, and we both take the jeering as his family shares in our love.

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  About the Author

  V. Vaughn lives on an island off the coast of Maine. She believes we all have the magic of love, and that for some of us, it just needs to be found.

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  V. also writes sexy shifter romance. As Violet Vaughn she writes contemporary romance. She also writes cozy mysteries as Lucy Quinn, a name she shares with her bestie Deanna Chase.

  * * *

  Find out more at www.violetvaughn.com

  Sign up for her newsletter.

  Also by V. Vaughn

  You can find the following series at www.violetvaughn.com

  * * *

  Called by the Bear

  Book I

  Book II

  Book III

  Tempted by the Bear

  Book I

  Book II

  Book III

  Desired by the Bear

  Book I

  Book II

  Book III

  Rocked by the Bear

  Andre

  Adrian

  Aleck

  Aaron

  Jared

  Jax

  Bewitched by the Bear

  Wildest Bear

  Bear Space

  Bad Bear

  Look What You Made Me Bear

  I Knew Bear Were Trouble

  You Bear With Me

  * * *

  Winter Valley Wolves

  Never Say Werewolf Again

  License to Werewolf

  From Werewolf With Love

  The Werewolf Who Loved Me

  Werewolves are Forever

  Werewolf Another Day

  For Your Werewolf Only

  Werewolves Only Live Twice

  Live and Let Werewolf

  Smokey Falls Wolves

  Stand by Your Wolf

  Ride a Horse, Save a Werewolf

  Werewolf on Your Mind

  * * *

  Heartland Shifters

  Lion Hearts Tiger

  Bunny Hearts Bear

  Wolf Hearts Panther

  Cougar Hearts Wolf

  Cat Hearts Hawk

  Deer Hearts Bear

  * * *

  Witches of Night Meadow

  Witch Forgotten

  Witch Remembered

  Witch Smitten

  Witch Discovered

  Witch Scorned

  Witch Enchanted

  Witch Lost

  Witch Charmed

  Witch Bewildered

  Witch Vexed

  Witch Betrayed

  Witch Captivated

  Called by the Vampire

  Book I

  Book 2

  Book 3

  Greenville Alien Mail Order Brides

  Caiden

  Hunter