The Alpha’s Tempting Mate

Jackson

The first rays of light come up over the mountains as Sam pulls into my garage.

On my orders, he stopped to pick up Jacqueline. I knew how worried her grandmother had been, and vice versa. I want Kylie to have all the support she needs, especially considering it’s her first shift. While the shift was necessary for her survival, she may not know how to shift back when the time comes.

I carry her in. Sam tries to carry Jacqueline, but the old cat insists on walking on her own, leaning heavily on Sam. We install them both in the upstairs guest bedroom. Jacqueline shifts and curls her body up beside Kylie’s, lending her purring vibrations for her granddaughter’s healing.

I sit beside the bed, my heart rammed up behind my chin, my fingers moving over Kylie’s sleek black fur.

She’s fucking magnificent. A huge black panther with golden eyes. Truly awe-inducing. It’s the first time in my life anything’s made sense. Of course my wolf chose this incredible female. She’s everything I could ever hope for in a mate-strong, brilliant, beautiful. And a shifter.

Morning comes on like a freight train, my phone ringing off the hook with calls. I leave the room so I won’t disturb Kylie, then give orders and make statements on calls with Luis, Sarah in PR, and the CFO at SeCure. The money has been restored-all of it. I tell Luis to have SeCure take credit for the reversal because I know, without a glimmer of a doubt, who is responsible. My star employee, Kylie McDaniel.

When I come back into the room, Kylie’s breathing flows even and relaxed, her wounds already closed.

“Looks like all the money is back where it belongs. You did that, didn’t you, beautiful?” I murmur, rubbing her cheek. She pushes into my hand.

“Can you change back, kitten? Bring Kylie back?”

The great cat’s eyes widen. As I feared, she doesn’t know how.

“When Sam tried to lose himself on a California mountainside, I stood on his throat and demanded he transform. The animal can take over, if you go too long without the human side. You forget who you are.”

Jacqueline shifts and re-dresses. She murmurs to Kylie in French. I catch words I understand here and there. “Find” and “quiet” and “remember.” I don’t know if it’s different for cats, so I’m glad Jacqueline is there to help.

Kylie moves restlessly. Her eyes open and close, paws flex, showing enormous, sharp claws. She rolls over and stands up on the bed. Rolls back down to her side.

Jacqueline speaks again, a constant stream of coaching.

Kylie claws the bed, shredding the sheets and blankets.

“Come back to me, kitten. I want to kiss you,” I murmur.

She turns her golden eyes on me, and our gazes lock. Neither of us seem to breathe. Finally, the air around her shimmers.

“That’s it, baby,” I encourage, but the shimmer fades. “You were onto it there. Try again. I need to kiss that pretty mouth of yours.”

The air shimmers again, and Kylie appears, pale, but even more beautiful than I remember.

“Baby.” I lunge to wrap a blanket around her and pull her up into my arms.

“Where’s the kiss you promised?” she croaks.

“Get her some water,” I bark at Sam, who’s leaning in the doorway. He immediately disappears.

“Well?” she demands.

I don’t hold back. I claim her mouth with every bit of ferocity inside me. The need to possess, claim, mark, mate her flood from me in a torrent. The need to punish her for taking a bullet meant for me. The need to show her my love, my affection, my promise to be there for her next time. Not to let her down the way I did this time. I part her lips with my tongue, twine around hers. I slant my mouth over hers, demanding more, taking it all. I drink her in. I devour her.

“I’m so damn sorry,” I croak when we finally part, both gasping for air. “I will never let you walk away from me again. I’ll never leave you. That’s a goddamn promise.”

She smiles weakly, and I’m reminded of the fragile state of her health. A stab of guilt for kissing her so hard pricks me.

Sam returns with the water, and I snatch it from him to hand to my mate. “Jeez, man. Is this how it’s going to be for the whole pregnancy?”

Everyone in the room freezes as I flip his words over in my head.

Pregnancy?

Jesus. Yes. Kylie’s scent has changed. Victory pummels me like a meteor. My wolf does a double backflip and moonwalks in a circle around Kylie while fist pumping. She’s carrying my pup. My pup.

Jacqueline covers her mouth. “Mon Dieu,” she breathes then launches herself at us, clucking rapidly in French.

Kylie’s bewilderment blooms into moist eyes.

I clutch her against my body, my wolf fiercely protective even with no present threat. “That’s how you shifted, kitten. My cub’s DNA tipped the scale.”

She laughs through her tears. “I’m pregnant? How do you know? Are you sure?”

Jacqueline, Sam, and I all nod. “Your scent has changed, baby. You’re pregnant.” Tears prick my eyes.

Jacqueline and Sam have the grace to slip out of the room, closing the door behind them.

“Kitten, I knew you were my mate from the moment you walked into that elevator. I need you. You’re the only person I’ve trusted, the only thing I’ve believed in. Ever. I can play games with you right now, pretend I’m offering you a choice to be my mate or not, but the fact is, you’re mine. You run, I’ll follow. You hide, I’ll find you. So, please, make it easy on both of us, and tell me that you’ll stay.”

Kylie purses her lips and whistles. “That might be the worst proposal I’ve ever heard.”

I can’t fight the smile tugging my mouth. “Is that a yes?”

She gives me a long look-long enough I stop breathing, have to force myself not to fidget. “I’m still mad at you for not believing in me.”

I cradle her cheek. “I know. I fucked up. But I promise I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you. You and your grandmother will rule my fucking life.”

Her eyes mist again, and she leans her forehead against mine. “I thought you were the one who liked to rule.”

“Mmm hmm. Yes. Always. Can you live with it?”

“Yes.” She didn’t hesitate this time, and I nearly fall down with relief. “There’s just one small problem.”

My shoulders tense. “What is that?”

“I’m wanted by the FBI.”

“I’m fixing that,” I promise. “Garrett stayed to stage the bodies at the warehouse so it appears Stu and his cohorts killed each other. You will be given all the credit for the recovery of the money. Don’t think of it again.” I can’t stop my hands from roaming over her soft skin, sliding up inside her T-shirt to cup her breasts. “The only thing you need to worry about is growing our baby.”

She tips back her head, offering me her mouth again, and I claim it, scarcely believing she’s truly mine.

“When are you going to mark me?” Her voice sounds husky, not afraid.

“Just as soon as you’re recovered, baby. Right after I turn that pretty ass red for taking the bullet meant for me.”

She wiggles her ass in my lap. “You know you’ll always be my hero.” She touches my face. “I just couldn’t watch helplessly while another person I love got killed.”

My heart ricochets around my chest. “You love me?”

She laughs the husky laugh that drives me wild. “I love you, wolf. I’ve told you that, before.”

“I don’t mind hearing it again.”

“I love you, I love you, I-”

I shut her up with a kiss, smothering her mouth with mine, stroking her lips, joining our tongues. “I love you, kitten. You’re home now.”

She let her head fall back and closed her eyes. “Yes,” she sighed. “You are my home.”