Absolution (12 page)

Probably a good thing since they weren’t airing this on cable. David’s shift was flawless. Sure, some might say it was staged and people would be examining the footage for ages to come.

David stayed in wolf form. Bella petted him. She smiled at her mate.

The scene changed to Peter and Grey. Peter kept glancing at the door like he wanted to be anywhere, but in that room. Grey held his hand tightly, as if he was trying to keep Peter in his seat.

“Please, Peter, Greycen, tell us a bit about how you met.”

“Grey came to the house looking for his sister. I—I wasn’t ready for a mate, but some things you can’t argue with.”

“Why weren’t you ready, Peter?”

“I was told—” He looked at Grey who nodded. “I was told I would never have a mate because gay men didn’t have them. I was an abomination.”

“So you have the same issues as a shifter as other homosexuals?”

“Yes, we do. There isn’t much different between a shifter and a full human. We have the same problems. Peter was tossed out of his pack and found our current home. I wasn’t going to let him go. Not once I found him.”

“Why is that?” Valerie asked.

“When wolves find their mates, they know. It’s instinctual. We’re born with another half and it hurts once you find it and can’t be with the other person. It took some convincing, but finally Peter came around.”

“And your alpha, he’s fine with this?”

“Yes. He knows how mating works. We don’t pick. When our destined mate shows up the urge to be one is strong.” Grey glanced over at Peter.

The love could be felt through the screen. Kitty could see how much they meant to each other. It was how her sisters told her she stared at Everett. Everett stood and tugged Kitty up with him. She saw him wink at the girls before he led Kitty out of the room.

Someone else was talking, but her focus was now on her mate. They walked to their home. She loved how that sounded—theirs.

“Don’t you want to watch the other interviews? Valerie did a great job.”

“Nope.” He kept tugging her along. They reached the door and he opened it, still dragging her. They didn’t stop until they reached their bedroom.

Everett locked the door. Kitty just stood and watched as he pulled his clothes off. He was naked in a matter of seconds. If she had blinked, Kitty would have missed it.

“One of us is wearing too many clothes.” Everett looked at her expectantly.

Right. Too many clothes.
She took her time, peeling one article off, then another, before wriggling out of her underwear. Both of them stood and stared at each other.

“Now one of us is too far away.” Kitty smiled.

He pounced. Good thing they were close to the bed. They tumbled into it with Kitty ending up under Ev. His weight pushed her into the bed. She was in heaven. Kitty closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensations. Ev sucked at her neck, nibbling on her ear lobe. He kissed his way down her body, stopping only to flick her nipples with his tongue. They’d never been particularly sensitive, but something about Ev had her arching her back and wanting more. He bit down into it before soothing the nipple. Kitty dug her heels into the mattress and rubbed against Ev’s cock. She wanted that inside her in the worst way, but Ev was in no hurry. He gave her other breast the same treatment before moving along. His next stop was her belly button. It tickled when he licked inside. This was fun. He made foreplay a big deal. She wasn’t some innocent, but no one had ever made her feel the way Ev did. He nuzzled his nose into her pussy, just breathing on her, and it drove her insane. Kitty rocked against him, but Ev held her hips down.

“I’m not rushing this, Kitty.”

God, even having him talk against her was a turn-on. She bucked up.

“Don’t make me tie you up.”

Kitty groaned.

“Oh, I see someone likes that idea. We’ll explore it—later. For now—”

Ev stroked her long and hard.

“Ev—please, I need—”

He didn’t say anything, just moved to her opening and fucked her with his tongue. He used his thumb to rub her slit. Ev used his other thumb and circled her asshole. He eased his thumb inside and she came apart, screaming his name. Ev moved up her body and slid his cock into her pussy. She was already clutching around him. It was like her orgasm went on and on, no end in sight.

No rush on his part, but she was going crazy. Ev kept his strokes slow and steady, pressing her down in the bed. She wrapped her legs around his hips, using her feet to push him in harder, but he wouldn’t cooperate. Ev nibbled at her lips and pinched her nipples. All of the sensations were too much.

“Too much. Ev—please, please.” She thrashed her head back and forth against the pillow.

“Shh, shhh,” he murmured against her lips.

How can he even think right now?
Kitty scratched down his back and met him stroke for stroke until he lost his rhythm.

“Come for me. Please, please—I want—need…” She couldn’t even form a complete sentence.

Her climax was building, if it ever stopped. Her body flew apart.

“Kitty, Kitty…close.”

She wrapped tighter around him, clutching him to her. They screamed together. Kitty came so hard she would’ve sworn she saw stars.

It was a few minutes before she could even think again, much less speak. The silence was nice. Who knew what the future would bring, but at this moment she was right where she needed to be—surrounded by friends and family.

“I know this is too soon, but I have to say it. I love you, Kitty. You were born to be mine.” Ev hugged her close to his side.

“It is too soon, but I feel it too, Ev. My soul is at peace and I didn’t think that would ever happen in this lifetime. You make me feel loved and safe. Something I’ve needed for a while now.”

“I’ve needed it too. When Peter met Grey and I watched them struggle, I swore I’d never let my mate go. I’d give you all the time you need, but you were mine.”

“No, that doesn’t sound creepy at all.” Kitty laughed.

“Well…now that I think about it.” Ev leered at her.

“Who are you kidding? That was some of the best sex of my life, there is no way I could go another round.”

“Are you challenging me again?”

Kitty laughed. “I know better than to challenge you.”

She moved her head so she could stare into his eyes. Contentment washed over her.

Who knew what the humans would bring, but she would take Ev’s earlier advice and live her life for the moment, not worry about what might happen.

“Man, are you guys at it
again?
”

That could only be Poppy, pitching her voice loud enough so they could hear it through the closed door.

There was whispering that Kitty didn’t catch.

“Maybe we need a bigger place.” Ev shook his head.

“What, and miss the comedy hour of the Kelley sisters?” Kitty tickled Ev.

He tried to wiggle away, but she was relentless. They were both breathless and laughing when they heard Bunny this time.

“We’re going back to the big house. Call us when you’re ready for us to come home.”

The door closed, leaving them alone again. Kitty wondered what Bunny had bribed Poppy with to get her out of the house. She’d worry about that—maybe later. Way later. She had a mate to enjoy. Let whatever happened come, she’d be ready to deal with it, but not alone. Never alone again.

Epilogue

Sometime in the near future

The widespread panic over the reveal of the shifters had died down. The Ancients were happy with the outcome. They knew their wolves would do the right thing if steered in the direction they needed to go. The Ancients looked over to where it all started—well, at least in this century. The couple who had got the ball rolling on the greatest prophecy they’d ever had or would have—David and Bella Sanders. Their triplets were babies no more. One stood out. She was tall like her mother with the same red hair and green eyes. She would be the one they talked to in the future. Not that they’d need to guide the pack again for some time to come.

Rogue, Parker and Josey—the Sanders triplets—played with their friends Rose, Erin and Scott’s little girl. There was much laughter in the park where they frolicked. Rogue tilted her head and the Ancients sent out a feeling of love and peace before leaving them to play and be children.

In Valerie and Max Rockwell’s home there was a fight going on. Two little boys, Henry and Richard, tugged a doll between them. Valerie came into the room looking very pregnant. She took the doll and slapped both boys on the head, sending them to their room muttering something about hoping the next one was a girl and it was all Max’s fault. The Ancients knew for a fact that it was another boy, but they would let Valerie figure it out for herself. There was no need for whispers in her direction. Valerie would handle the boys like everything else in her life, with dignity and a lot of questions.

The next stop took them to the little grotto the wolves seemed to like to spend time in. Russ and Vivian watched their little girl, Roberta, shift for the first time. She would be their only child and doted upon by her parents and the rest of the pack—a little princess who would go on to lead the foxes. There was great promise in the girl and they would watch with interest as she grew into a powerful woman. The magical power that Russ lacked was made up for in his daughter. Not only that, but Roberta could shift into both a fox and a wolf—something that hadn’t been heard of until now. There would be more mixed species who would do the same, but Roberta was special and the first of her kind.

Zareb and Joy relaxed in bed. They didn’t stay long with the couple. The Ancients didn’t like to peek in when their children shared carnal knowledge. At least most of them didn’t. Joy and Zareb would be blessed with children, but not for a while. Zareb was needed to help guide Roberta. Plus, Zareb deserved all the time he needed to be with his love. They’d put him through enough in his lifetime. He needed the peace his mate brought him. Joy started to stroke Zareb and it was time to leave.

Djimon. He was the one they worried about the most. Even they couldn’t predict everything. There was too much choice involved for a finite future. It could have gone so wrong so many different ways. But Ive had come along just in time. She was what he needed. Someone with such passion. They too were childless—but not for long. Ive didn’t know it yet, but she was with child. She would make a wonderful and protective mother. The couple were on their way to meet Ive’s brother Greycen and his partner Peter. There was the matter of some adoption papers to sign. The two were about to become daddies. Peter wasn’t sure at first, but Grey and Ive talked him into it. They would make fine fathers for the poor orphaned shifter. That was the way of life. Others died so more could live.

Things were better between Peter and his brother Don. Lincoln was a big help in getting the brothers to talk. He and Grey had become fast friends. Don was growing into his leadership role and nothing like his father as he’d feared. Don and Lincoln didn’t want children, but would be doting uncles. There would be more than one child in Peter and Grey’s future.

Kir and his mate Naomi were currently running in wolf form around the property. Another one of their children they’d worried about. Kir was settling in nicely to his new home. He was also a surprise to them—someone who became more important because of his choices. He, Zareb and Djimon would be the backbone of the tribe teaching the pack the old ways—letting more than just the Masters pack become more spiritual. Too much had been lost and not enough knew about the Ancients guiding their lives. Kir and Naomi would never have children of their own, but the couple would be happy with it that way. There were so many pups running around the Masters pack now that they would always have children around.

Soon, Kir and Naomi would travel to the other packs and teach them the ways of the Ancients. They were proud, as proud as they could be of their creations.

Pups—in a property on the outskirts of the pack there two pups chased two children. Everett and Kitty’s children, the four of them. Two sets of twins. They were all excited about their uncle Peter bringing home a new friend they could play with. Their aunts were on babysitting duty. Everett and Kitty were running behind, but they were going to be there when Peter and Grey officially became parents. Everett wouldn’t miss it.

There were still some rumbling about shifters being among humans. There was nothing the Ancients could do about it. For now there was a well-deserved peace over the Masters tribe.

There had been many trials, but the Masters knew how to navigate them to their best ability. The Ancients were happy with the way the events had played out.

“Sister, what are you doing?”

“I’m watching over our children.”

“They are fine, sister. Leave them be.”

The world view through the clouds closed as she left their children to their own devices.

After all, there was a time when a parent had to let go. They would need them again and the Ancients would always have an ear open to their children for any trials they may have, but now—now was time to rejoice in the beauty of life, knowing they’d played a little part in making so many people happy.

A voice broke through the clouds.

“Thank you, Ancients, for my family and finally some peace.”

She peeked to see Everett looking towards the heaven with a smile on his face. She pushed through her happiness and finally went about her day to see what other trouble might need attending—somewhere far, far away from the Masters.

Also available from Total-E-Bound Publishing:

Seeds of Dawn: Dreams

Jambrea Jo Jones

Excerpt

Chapter One

David Sanders sat in the diner in the podunk town of Robinsville, ready to give up. His alpha had sent him to this rat hole of a town to find Anabella Pouge and bring her back to the pack. When Russell Masters gave an order, you followed it or risked the consequences.