Redeemed: True Mates Book 4 (BBW Wolf Shifter Romance) (A Craggstone Paranormal Romance) (13 page)

On a frantic yell, his hips bucking, his cock pounding in and out, he started to come, and I rode the wave along with him, the bond wringing another orgasm from me, right on the heels of the other. He tensed above me, his jaw clenched, every muscle tensed as he came, filling me, completing the claiming.

We were mates, the bond fully formed, and it was a beautiful thing. I closed my eyes to gaze at it, marveling at the constant flow of energy, the strength and vibrancy of it. I understood now why shifters would do anything for their mate.

“Just look at it,” I whispered, hugging my mate close as he collapsed on top of me. “The bond—it’s you and me. Together.”

“It’s us,” he murmured, his breath hot against my cheek as he rolled me over, stroking my back as he held me close. “We stand together, as one.”

“Always. I love you, sweetheart. I know I hadn’t told you, but I do.”

“I already knew. When you decided to really trust me, with your heart, not your head, I knew. And I love you. Always and forever.”

My mate was a strong man, one who had learned to be strong on his own, standing on his own two feet. He wouldn’t be swayed by others, wouldn’t be told how to think—not even by me. He would never judge me by the same rules as everyone else, not because he didn’t believe in them, but because he questioned them, like he questioned everything I took for granted. Through his eyes I would see our world anew and together we would build our own set of rules. After what we had been through, trust would never be an issue, I was sure of that.

“What are you thinking, my love, with so serious a face?”

“About you, our future life together, the world, love and trust,” I replied, my words muffled against his chest.

“Ah. Small thoughts then,” he said, chuckling. “Let me take your mind off things, or next thing, you’ll be spouting off about world peace.”

He swallowed my retort, transforming my grumble into a moan, then a gasp.

I might have to talk about world peace a little more often, if this was the thanks I got.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Jason

Our welcome back to the Colstone packhouse had been a mixed one. Most had been enthusiastic about our mating, and only a few held their judgment in reserve.

Cole was one of them, and what didn’t help was that Macey was oblivious to it. Which meant that I had to be the one to talk to him.

“I’ll just be a minute,” I murmured, unwrapping myself from the tangle of arms and legs we had collapsed in. Kissing her lightly on the lips and ignoring her raised eyebrows, I pulled myself up from the deceptively comfy couch in James’ office, and made my way over where the man in question brooded by the windowsill.

Macey’s old seat, I noted wryly. Cole was speaking with actions rather than words.

“Do we have something we need to discuss?” I asked bluntly. No point in hanging about. If he had a problem, I needed to know about it.

“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” He folded his arms and glowered at the room in general.

“I’m talking about Macey. And me. Look, something has obviously upset you.”

“I’m not upset.”

It was like bashing my head against a wall. I could already feel a headache coming on. I tried again. “Look, if I stepped on your toes or something, I’m sorry. But you’re not true mates. You’ve got to face it—”

“I don’t want Mace
like that!
”

“You don’t?”

“No! We kissed once and it was like kissing my sis—” His voice trailed off when he saw the look on my face.

I gritted my teeth, clinging onto the temper I was only just learning how to control. “I’m going to give you a free pass on that one, just because you’re obviously upset about something and not thinking straight. Don’t
ever
tell me about what you have, and haven’t, done with my mate again. Not if you value your head staying attached to your shoulders,” I growled in a low voice.

For a second I thought he wasn’t going to let it drop, then he sagged back against the wall. “My bad, I guess I was just shocked that you thought that. Does she?”

“
My mate
is oblivious to this little funk you’re in, but you can bet your ass it won’t last long. Then she’ll be nagging you, trying to figure it out.”

Cole sniggered, shooting a quick glance at Macey. “I can tell you’ve been hanging around with Mace. Your uptight accent is starting to chill.”

“So she said.” I shrugged.

“Look, man. It’s just all a bit sudden. One minute, you’re a suspect, the next, you’re mated to one of my best friends. I just need to know that you’ll look after her. Not hurt her, okay?”

“I could
never
hurt her. I would rather die.”

Cole gave me a cool, assessing look. “Okaaaay then.”

“You believe me?”

“Why wouldn’t I? I just needed to hear it. Oh, and warn you that if you break that promise, it’ll be you that should worry about losing your head.”

Deciding that was a fair comment—and really, I expected no less from him—I nodded.

“Have you decided what you’re going to do about your business back in the city?” He was trying for casual, but it didn’t fool me.

“We’ve talked about it. We’re thinking about forming a shifter division. Macey assures me there are plenty of shifters who would love the chance at a change of pace, and my company could certainly provide that.”

Interest sparked in Cole’s eyes.

I had been right; the man was restless, looking for a new challenge. “Maybe hit me up when this is all finished, and we can talk about you possibly taking charge of a team?”

“Team?”

Yes, definitely interested. He was practically salivating at the proposition. “My men don’t work alone, it’s too risky. Of course, we do the standard bodyguard stuff, just enough to satisfy the tax man, but we have a…shall we say…more specialized department for covert ops. That’s where the shifters would fit in, for the most part. Though they could take on the above board jobs as well, if they wanted a change of pace.”

“Sounds interesting, very interesting,” Cole murmured, and I could see he was already deep in thought, considering the idea.

Clapping him on the shoulder, I made my way back over to Macey.

“What was all that about?” she whispered when I gathered her back up and deposited her on my lap, where she belonged.

“Just guy stuff.”

There was that eyebrow again, arching up into her hairline.

“It’s sorted, we reached an agreement. No one loses their heads today.”

“Ah, that sort of guy stuff.”

The door burst open and Oliver strode into the room, breaking up the celebratory atmosphere.

All eyes turned to him as he surveyed the room, his face tight with anger.

His eyes paused on James, then continued until they connected with mine.

“Jacob talked?” I guessed, already knowing the answer.

“Cried like a baby.”

“Oliver!” Kara hissed from her place at James’ side.

Oliver winced. “Sorry. It slipped my mind that he’s your brother.”

“What? With them looking so different?” Sean drawled from his spot by the fireplace. He was swiftly elbowed by a feisty looking woman. Lisa? Not that I’d had chance to talk to her. Sean was a little…protective of his mate. Slight understatement, but I was starting to understand how he felt. Every time a man so much as looked at Macey, the room flashed purple.

Oliver seemed to be waiting for me to make the first move. “What did he say?” I was glad Jacob had broken quickly; it meant Oliver hadn’t had the chance to work on him for too long. Even though I had disowned him, my heart still twinged a little for the brother I had never known, and now, would never know.

“He gave us Bert’s location—”

“Any chance he’s lying?” James broke in, his face set in determined lines.

“No. Gary went crazy with him. He’s telling the truth. Trust me, I checked, just to make sure.”

I swallowed back the bile in my throat. I didn’t need to know
how
he’d checked. I’d take his word for it.

“Not only is the bastard running drugs, he’s kidnapping human women, too. Using them for breeding. Jacob spilled that he’s building a super pack, has been doing it for years.”

“With himself as the stud?” Disgust coated James’ voice.

“And others, Jacob being one of the main donors. Sorry Jason.”

I had nieces and nephews? It was as if I had been thrust underwater, the voices in the room indistinct and muffled. From no family to—?

“How many are Jacob’s?”

“And how many are my brothers and sisters?” Sean demanded.

“I don’t know. There are at least twenty children, all different ages, different fathers, and different mothers. It’s going to be hell trying to sort this out.” Oliver sank into a chair, clearly exhausted.

“But it is going to get sorted out,” Gregg said from the open doorway, his face white with anger. “And congratulations, Macey, Jason. I’m glad to see the power boost between you two has settled down. It’s going to be an exciting time in the Council when you two ascend.”

Macey stiffened in my lap. “You knew? What the hell is it, Dad?”

“It’s what happens when two Alphas have a bond, and at least one of those is going to be Council Member strength. Just the Mother of All leveling things out between the two of you.”

“But did you
know
?”

“I guessed. I hoped. Looks like Bert chose the wrong coyote to abuse and corrupt,” he muttered, in almost an afterthought.

I winced at the thought of what Jacob must have gone through, the life he must have led. If it had been me, would I have succumbed? Did the capacity for evil live in me, too?

Gregg cleared his throat, his blue eyes piercing and direct. “You are much stronger than your brother. More powerful, of course, but power isn’t everything. It’s what you do when faced with difficult choices that defines you, and you have already been tested enough in your life to know that you would not fail. My daughter loves you, as she is a very good judge of character. Remember that when you begin to doubt yourself.”

Macey squeezed my hand, undoubtedly feeling my uncertainty through the bond. I nodded at the older man. I could only hope he was right, though I trusted my mate to keep me on the straight and narrow should I ever wander off the path.

Gregg nodded, seeming satisfied. “We will have to celebrate properly once this mess is cleared up.” He winked at us before striding across the room and taking the chair opposite James.

“We need a plan,” Gregg continued after making himself comfortable.

“Agreed,” James answered, stroking his chin in thought. “The Council—?”

“—We’re with you. Anything you need. Your pack is personally connected, so you’ll take the lead. But Oliver is to go in first. He’s trained for this type of thing.”

James nodded, his eyes surveying the room as we each added our agreement, one by one.

“You up to this?” he asked Oliver, sizing the obviously fatigued man up.

Oliver straightened in his chair, and before our eyes, his exhaustion melted away.

I’d seen that before in the ex-soldiers I had employed to train me, who I had learned everything from. Including, don’t ever quit.

“I’m always up for it,” Oliver growled, a twinge of eagerness in his eyes.

Bert was a sadistic mad-man, set on building his own empire and wiping everyone else from existence.

Who better to send than our own special brand of sadistic?

***

***
Cherished - True Mates Book 5 - Out Now
***

Sign up for Olivia’s newsletter to be notified of new releases -
www.arranwrites.com

Or
join Olivia’s ARC Team to receive new releases for free, in exchange for an honest review of 20 words or more!
Sign up here for Olivia Arran’s ARC Team -
http://eepurl.com/byh9iv

Recommended Reading Order

True Mates Series

Found: Book 0.5 (Claire & Adam) Standalone short Prequel - buy
HERE

Promised: Book 1 (Kara & James) buy
HERE

Taken: Book 2 (Lisa & Sean) buy
HERE

Healed: Book 3 (Amanda & Tarq) buy
HERE

Redeemed: Book 4 (Macey & Jason)

Cherished: Book 5 (Ana & Oliver) buy
HERE

The Everson Brothers (Standalone Bear Shifter novellas)

My Curse to Bear (Merrie & Craig) buy
HERE

My Duty to Bear (Amy & Ryan) buy
HERE

***

Keep up to date with Olivia! Join her newsletter for information on upcoming releases, free books and special offers.