Berch (6 page)

“You’re going to do a lot of running tonight.” Berch lifts the spoon toward my mouth, and I take a cautious taste while he adds, “Besides, you’re too thin.” He grabs my butt playfully. “I like something to hold onto.”

Creamy cheese flavor coats my tongue, and I let out a sigh. “In that case, I’ll take a large serving.”

Berch points with his spoon toward the counter. “Sit.”

I slide into a high leather bar chair and settle back on the plush cushioning. The granite countertop is cold under my arms when I lean on it. I say, “Katie and Devon said that the pack will treat me like gold, because I’m the key to providing the next generation. Tell me more.”

Wine gurgles in a glass, and he hands it to me. “Over the years, we learned that the best women to bring into the pack are true mates. Men are encouraged to wait until they find them. So when we do, we make sure they are appreciated.”

“I like the sound of that.” I hold out my hand, and light catches my diamond as I twist it. “I hope I’m not being too nosey asking this, but how do you afford such nice things as a science teacher?”

Berch swallows a mouthful of wine and grins at me. “Ever hear of Lindholm Chocolates?”

My eyes widen. “You’re
that
Lindholm? Wait, this is a small town. Why don’t I know this?”

“Because it wasn’t us until a few years ago when my uncle died. He never married and left his fortune to his nephews.” The stove clicks off, and he lifts the pot of spaghetti to drain it.

“Sweet.” I snort at my pun. “So I shouldn’t feel guilty about my gorgeous ring?”

“No. I think of it as a wise investment.” Berch brings a bowl of pasta over to the stovetop between us and spoons on the chicken, broccoli, and cheesy sauce. “Speaking of investing, I could use some help with the rest of my inheritance.” My meal clatters in front of me when he sets it down.

My stomach flips, because I have to tell him the truth. “About my abilities.” I touch the cold metal of the fork beside my plate. I slide it to be perfectly straight and glance up at the man I love. “The only job I ever had in New York was as a waitress. The expensive things I had the night of the reunion were all rented.”

Berch reaches over and takes my hand. “I know. I saw the security tag on your shoe.”

“Oh.” My cheeks burn with shame.

He lifts my hand and puts his palm against mine to thread our fingers together. “It doesn’t matter to me. So you didn’t find a job in the city. You’re still a smart woman who will make great investments. I want you to do it.”

This man. I grin and say, “Then I’m your girl.” I twirl noodles around my fork, and steam swirls up when I lift a mouthful into the air to cool.

Berch joins me at the counter with his dinner, and we discuss finances as we eat.

Afterward, cleaning the kitchen, we find we already have an easy rhythm working together. The button on the dishwasher control panel beeps before I click it shut, and I turn to my fiancé. He rubs my arms and says, “Are you ready to practice shifting?”

I nod, and Berch tips my chin up. I notice his finger isn’t searingly hot and realize that I’m probably hot blooded now, too. “Hey, it’s a lot easier than you think. C’mon.” He grabs my hand and walks us to the living room.

“You’ll want to take off your rings.” Berch opens a drawer in the side table. “You can put them in here for now.”

Metal thuds against wood, and I push the drawer shut. “And now I get naked?”

“We both do.”

Once our clothes are shed, Berch takes my hands. “Close your eyes and search for your wolf. She’s dying to come out and play.”

I feel silly as I imagine being an animal, but within moments, a strange sensation of power fills me. A rumble forms in my throat, and the growl I hear is mine.
Whoa.

Berch releases my hands and says, “Good. Now pace in a circle the way a dog does when she’s about to bed down for the night.”

When I begin to move, my skin prickles, and the odors in the room become intense. My hands thud to the floor, only they no longer feel human, and I gaze down at the paws that have replaced my fingers. My fur is paler than Berch’s, and I wonder if my eyes remained green. I stop pacing when the strange sensation that makes me think of swirling ceases.

Berch is still human and grinning as he says, “You’re a natural. Let’s go outside.” He opens the glass door to the deck, and once we exit, he shuts it and shifts too.

His voice sounds in my head, and he commands me to run as he springs down the stairs. I take off after my wolf mate as if I’ve done it a million times. Galloping on four feet is so much faster than two, and we whiz through the yard and toward the path along the edge of the lake. Berch slows occasionally to nudge me as if I need encouragement. But I don’t, because the power in my limbs and the lung capacity of my wolf form are amazing.

I track our progress in my head and realize we’ve travelled almost five miles, yet my body feels as if it’s jogged less than one. When we get to the clearing I’ve frequented for swimming, I notice other wolves. I slink back behind Berch, wondering if Parker is here. Two smaller wolves approach me. Berch says, “The darker one is Katie and the other is Devon.”

When the two girls nip at me, I return the gesture. Katie throws her head back to howl, and if a wolf could laugh, I would before I join in along with Devon. Katie nudges me and starts to run, so I follow. She weaves in and out of the trees that edge the clearing as if they’re an obstacle course, and my animal body maneuvers them with ease. Berch was right; I’m having so much fun.

I’m beginning to tire when we return to the area where we left Berch. He’s roughhousing with a few male wolves, and I guess they’re his brothers, Brindle and Bosun. As soon as my mate notices me, he comes to my side and asks,
“What do you think?”

“Being a wolf is the coolest thing ever. Today has been better than Christmas. I got engaged to the man I love, an incredible new body, and free access to all the chocolate I could ever want.”
I nuzzle Berch’s neck with my snout, and he presses his body against me. My heart wants to burst with joy and I say,
“I’m so in love with you.”

“I love you, too.”

My true mate’s words ring in my head as I gaze across the lake. The moon is reflecting off the water, and a tiny shiver runs through me when a long, low howl sounds. It’s not the lighthearted version I heard earlier, and I glance over to where it came from to discover a black wolf across the clearing from us.
Parker.

The fur on my back bristles, and Berch leans into me as he says,
“It’s okay. He’s accepted you’ve been mated and is letting the pack know.”

Sadness washes over me.
“He sounds so defeated and lonely.”

“He is lonely. Taking off to play football and using his wolf powers has alienated him from the pack.”
Berch lets out a low growl.
“He’s decided to return, and we’ll welcome him, but my arms aren’t as open as everyone else’s.”

I nudge playfully, because Parker is the last person I want to think about.
“You don’t have arms right now.”

Berch licks my face, and if I could giggle, I would. I ask,
“Can we go home now?”
The orgasm I had just after Berch bit me was so intense that I’m anxious to find out if it’s a werewolf thing.
“This has been fun, but I want to test out something I felt earlier.”

A nip at my flank makes me jump, and I have to race to keep up with my mate when he takes off toward home.

O
il sizzles as I drop a lump of dough into it. A little splatters on my hand, and I flinch from the brief pain. “Damn it.”

“Need some help?” asks Berch from the sofa. I glance at him as he takes a sip of coffee.

“No. I’m fine.” Wax paper rips as I tear it off the roll to line a brand new plastic airtight container. I glance at the bright yellow lid.
I’ve become my mother.
I’m making donuts for breakfast as well as for my first pack potluck dinner. “I’m not sure I like this recipe competition thing.”

Berch smiles at me, and I wonder if he knows he has sugar on his chin. “You’ve got nothing to worry about. These are delicious.” His wolf teeth peek out for a moment and gleam as he takes a bite of pastry.

“Right.” I glance down at my engagement ring and my fear fades, because it doesn’t matter. I’ve got the man of my dreams and am so in love nothing can take away my happiness.

Berch asks, “Have you given any more thought to our wedding?”

After I was changed a couple of weeks ago, I moved into the lake house. Berch is anxious for us to become official and suggested we get married as soon as possible. I want time to plan the perfect event. A donut is warm in my hand as I walk over to Berch to hand it to him. “I think September would be perfect. It’s not too hot, and it’s only three months away.”

My mate pulls me down for a kiss, and I fall into his lap. He tastes like sugar and coffee, and I let out a little noise when his hands move to intimate places. As much as I don’t want to stop, I break away. “I’ll burn the next batch.” I scramble off him and sigh as I look down at my true love. “I can’t get enough of you. Do you think it will be like this forever?”

He nods with half-lidded eyes. “Take a break.”

My entire body is tingling with need when I hurry to the kitchen to turn off the stove so I can get back to the man I crave.

***

M
y designer-outlet heels click on asphalt as Berch places me on the ground. His hands linger on my hips as he whispers, “Those legs are going to kill me.”

I’ve discovered it doesn’t take Louboutin stilettos to impress the man I love. When I sent back the things I rented, I closed my account and that chapter of my life. I was chasing the wrong dream.

I glance down at my new shoes and say, “They’d rather be wrapped around your waist.”

Berch groans and reaches past me for my container of donuts. “Don’t think that vision won’t be in my mind for the next few hours.”

“Mine too.” I wink at him before I turn to Ergan’s voice. It doesn’t surprise me to learn he’s a werewolf, too.

He says, “It’s about time. Congratulations on your engagement.” I embrace him as my mind jumps to my friend Kayla. Dare I hope Ergan has plans for her?

“Thank you.” I can’t resist adding, “I hope I’ll get to say the same to you soon.”

Ergan wiggles his eyebrows at me. “You’ll be one of the first to know.”

Devon has seen us and makes her way over, dragging Bosun along with her. “Raven! Katie is probably already inside, and you’re going to sit with us.”

Bosun grins at me. “She’ll bite anyone who dares to insult your cooking.”

I laugh at his teasing as we make our way to the clubhouse. The building is a large wooden structure with a front porch that extends the width of it.

An older man approaches us as we climb the steps. Berch says, “Paul Ryan, I’d like you to meet Raven.”

Large hands wrap around mine when I extend it, and the man’s eyes crinkle with fine lines as he says, “Welcome to the pack. We’re thrilled to have such a smart young woman in our ranks. I’m told you’re a wizard with numbers.”

“I don’t know about that, but thanks. It’s a pleasure to join you.”

He slaps Berch on the shoulder, and Devon links arms with me. She says, “They’re going to have a customary drink over your mating. Come with me.”

I roll my eyes at the male ritual as Berch kisses my cheek and whispers, “I won’t be long.”

Devon mumbles “Men,” as we walk inside. “All right, I’m going to point out a few key people you need to suck up to. Pack politics are not to be taken lightly.”

Katie joins us as we near a table full of food. She nods at a potato dish. “Take a healthy portion of that and rave about it loudly.”

Devon leans close to me and whispers, “Mary, the pack leader’s wife, makes it.”

“Got it.” I listen intently as they give me tips for my first encounter with the pack.

When they’re done, Katie asks, “How are you adjusting?”

I glance at Berch walking toward us. His eyes lock with mine, and my voice is faint as I answer. “Just fine.” Katie and Devon chuckle as I leave them to meet my mate. When his hands hold mine, everyone around us disappears.

He pulls me close and grips my waist lightly as he says, “You make me so happy.”

My wolf is itching to get out and lick his face as I place my hands on his chest and say, “It’s always been you, Berch.”

“Yes. And it will always be you, Raven.”

I kiss him without a thought about where we are, and when we break apart, I realize the room is silent. I gaze at the pack watching us. My cheeks flush with heat, and I glance at Berch. He’s proud, as if kissing me like we were alone is normal. His voice rings true when he wraps an arm around my shoulders and says, “Winter Valley pack, allow me to introduce Raven Lynch, soon to be Lindholm, my true mate.”

Faces smile, and people call out welcome as I recover from my embarrassment. Paul’s words compel me as my alpha when he says, “Let’s eat.”

Once we’ve sat at a table with dinner before us, I take a moment to ponder my new life. Two new girlfriends who’ll be my sisters-in-law are sitting nearby, and three brothers tease each other the way brothers do. I realize I’ve obtained more than the love of my life; I now have a large family.

Jessie and her babies are across the room, and I watch her bounce one in the air. I recall her words in the bathroom at the high school reunion when I asked why Berch was suddenly interested in me now that I had come back. She said, “You were meant to be together, and he took it for granted. This time, he’s not going to.” She had been right.

Berch interrupts my thought with a hand on my thigh and leans close to ask, “What are you thinking about?”

I gaze into the eyes that melt me on the spot. I place my hand on his cheek. “I have everything I’ve ever wanted right here in Winter Valley, and I’m never going to take it for granted.”

“And I have you. I plan to spend my life making sure you know what that means to me. I love you, Raven.”