Sassy Shifter Brides: Complete Series - BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Mail-Order Romance (7 page)

Though she had never seriously thought about settling down so early, she’d fallen in love with Shifter Grove. The air was full of hope and possibilities, and she drank from it greedily. It felt like just the place where she needed and wanted to be. Here, she had a chance to do something with her life, to truly help. There wasn’t a doctor in town, let alone a nurse, and she was sure that there would be plenty for her to do in order to help out. And it was a gorgeous place to raise children… many, many children. Kacey grinned at her thoughts, wrapping her shawl tighter around her neck and shoulders. It was the dead of summer, but so early in the morning that the sun was barely casting rays over the mountaintops, and it was still chilly.

She was walking down a small path leading into the forest, one that Warren often used to go on his runs in his bear form. The first time she’d seen him shift, she had expected to be terrified but no such emotion followed. Instead, she was awestruck by how much control Warren had to possess to control his man and his beast. The bear was a large, hefty grizzly, bigger than she’d expected. And the speed and power with which it moved was a direct reflection of Warren. She’d thrust her hands into his thick coat and latched her hands around his neck, not feeling anything but warmth and security. Chirping songbirds were waking up one by one, boosting her mood. Her steps seemed to grow easier the further she went, and the green forest gave her a sense of serenity she’d scarcely known in Texas.

Oh Liza, I wish you were here,
she thought to herself, hugging her arms around her body. The familiar clearing that the power lines ran through was to her left, and she was just about to turn onto it before movement on the field made her stop dead in her tracks.

She recognized him immediately. Wade Sawtooth had stepped out of his truck. He considered the power lines above him for a moment and then in the space of a few seconds, he had transformed into a mighty grizzly. His muzzle grew longer, and powerful nails erupted from his hands and feet. His body undulated under the rapid change, growing wider and thicker, with dark hairs sprouting all over him. He was already climbing up the post before Kacey had a chance to catch her breath. She stared with wide-eyed astonishment as he scrambled up, climbing it like it was the easiest thing.

“Oh my god, it’s been Wade all along,” she whispered in shock. She felt a flash of anger and resentment towards the werebear, and then, clarity. There was no hesitation now. Kacey turned on her heel and ran back towards Warren’s cottage. She needed to tell him everything. No way was Wade going to destroy
her
town and have any say in how she and Warren were going to spend their lives. Nu-uh. She wasn’t going to allow for any of that.

***

The standoff was tense. Warren and Wade faced one another, their bears bristling with rage. Wade’s jaws were bared, and Warren had blocked his way to the truck. They hadn’t got there in time to save the power lines, and Warren had ran much faster than Kacey did, but she was relieved to find that neither one of them were sporting any gashes or wounds yet. She wanted to run to Warren, but it seemed like she would only make things worse by interfering. Her hands were pressed against the cool bark of an oak tree, peeking out from behind it. Making out the silent conversation going on between the werebears didn’t require her to be a shifter – she could understand when two men were trying to size one another up, no matter if they happened to be bears.

Her heart twisted with worry for Warren. She’d only had time to tell him that she’d found Wade causing destruction on their land. But she wanted badly to tell him that she wanted nothing more than to stay with him in Shifter Grove. After an agonizing few minutes, Warren took the first step. He shifted out of bear form, slightly raising his hands. His face was contorted with anger, but he’d shown restraint. After another moment, Wade turned as well. She breathed a sigh of relief, but perhaps it was a moment too soon. Just because they didn’t want to kill each other didn’t mean they wouldn’t jump at the chance to seriously hurt one another.

“Wade, why are you doing this?” Warren asked, almost spitting out the words.

“You know as well as I do that you belong back with the clan. Mate or no mate. That bitch of a human won’t last with you. You need a werebear by your side,” Wade grumbled, his eye black from the punch Warren had delivered the night before. Before she knew what she was doing, Kacey was running across the field and slammed into Warren’s chest, pushing him back a fraction of a step. She’d seen that look on his face before. He was going to punch Wade again.

“No! Warren, he’s not worth it,” she pleaded. Wade’s hands were balled into fists as well, but he hadn’t budged an inch since he’d noticed Kacey. Warren put his arm around her and let his hands fall slack. He gave Wade a good long look, and Kacey could feel his whole body trembling with barely contained rage.

“Wade, I never want to see you here again. If one more power line comes down or anything,
anything
questionable happens, I’ll know who to search for. And I don’t take kindly to cowards going behind my back,” he said, grinding out the words. Wade huffed, his chest filling with air. He glanced at Kacey and then Warren and shrugged, painting that smirk that made a cold shiver run down Kacey’s spine back on his lips.

“So be it. I’ll be waiting when you come crawling back to me when your human leaves you and this town falls apart. You’ll be back.” With that, Wade walked around Kacey and Warren, almost bumping into Warren’s shoulder. Kacey kept a hand on Warren’s chest and the other snaked into his palm, gripping it tightly.

“You’re better than that,” she whispered, and when Wade started the car and sped off, Warren finally exhaled.

Kacey was pulled into a tight bear hug, and she buried her head into his chest as he cradled her against him. Her heart was pounding loudly, just like his, but she felt safe and secure in his arms.

“Never wander off like that, babe. I was worried sick,” he murmured. She nodded her head, her fingers twisting around the fabric of his shirt.

“I just needed to clear my head. And when I saw Wade here, everything suddenly made sense. Warren, I need to tell you something.”

“Anything,” he said. She pulled back a little – just enough so she could look him straight in the eyes while not letting go of him. The sun was beginning to warm the ground, though it was still ungodly early in the morning. Though it did seem oddly poetic that the sun would come out just now.

“I thought about the things you said last night. I want to say that… that I love you too, Warren. And I want to stay here with you. You said you felt an immediate connection, and I did as well. It swept me off my feet, and I thought I was just dreaming it, believing what I wanted to believe, but it’s all clear now. When I saw Wade about to cause more harm to you and to the town, I felt this rush of anger. Like I already lived here, like all of your worries were mine. That’s when I knew. Warren, I want to be with you. No matter what happens. Even if it is a little bit crazy.” She quieted, searching his face for a reaction. He gazed down at her for a moment, his green eyes filling with warmth. And then, he kissed her. She fell into the kiss like it was the sweetest of things, relief and happiness washing over her in equal measure.

The kiss was tender and long, saying everything to her without words. Her hands went around his neck, and her fingers scuffed through his thick hair. He squeezed her ample butt, and she giggled into the kiss, making Warren finally give her a chance to catch her breath.

“Do you mean it? Even if it means we’re going to have to have a rather… impromptu wedding soon?” His voice betrayed a hint of doubt, but her eager nodding swept that right away.

“Never been more sure of anything in my life,” she said. And it was the truth. Back in Texas, she had constantly kept her thoughts to herself and never dared to step out in order to protect something that she wanted or needed, unless it was for the benefit of her patients. Here, by Warren’s side, she felt all the confidence in the world. She’d found her voice, and she wasn’t about to lose it. And it didn’t hurt that the newfound confidence came with the hottest, most loving man she’d ever met.

EPILOGUE

Her crème dress skirted to the floor, trailing behind her in a slight train. The bodice that hugged her showed off her gorgeous figure and the delicious swell of her breasts. She knew because Warren had had far too much trouble keeping his eyes off of her rack during the ceremony. They’d been wed in a small field near Shifter Grove on the day of the equinox, surrounded by the townsfolk and Liza. Only the werebears knew that the true ceremony had taken place in the early morning hours, right at dawn, and only Kacey and Warren had been there to witness it. A binding of two hearts and souls was a delicate and private matter only meant for the two lovers, but Warren was human enough to appreciate a good party when there was an opportunity for one. In any case, the first Shifter Grove wedding seemed to be an occasion to celebrate.

“I love you,” he whispered in her ear for the umpteenth time, making her blush and grin like a schoolgirl. It never got old. His hands rested on her stomach as he hugged her from behind, watching the festivities unfold before them. They’d set the tables and chairs up in a half circle, and a band of more musically gifted locals had volunteered to play. The party was going along swimmingly, and Kacey had spent the day bathed in the love and affection of everyone in town. No matter what obstacles there were to face, she was safe in the knowledge that her man, her
mate
, had her back, and she was surrounded by people and shifters alike, who were more than willing to open their hearts to her.

“I love you too,” she said, looking up over her shoulder. Warren leant down, and they shared a kiss that wanted to linger far too long, as all of them did. Even Warren’s family had come, his younger brother, West having been his best man much to Deacon and Rake’s good-natured chagrin. Kacey was glad that the rest of the Sawtooths had had no problem accepting her into the family. Knowing Warren as well as she did, she was sure that the rest of the Sawtooth clan had to be bears with kind hearts and strong wills. She couldn’t wait to get to know them better (well, with one noticeable exception in the form of Wade, of course).

Kacey Sawtooth. I like the sound of that,
she thought happily, resting her back against Warren’s wide, powerful chest. Warren’s strength surrounded her, and she basked in his love, her hand covering his as they gazed across the gathered people. She was finally home. And nothing was going to change that.
 

N
O
M
ORE
L
ION

S
ASSY
S
HIFTER
B
RIDES

B
OOK 2

BY

A
NYA
N
OWLAN

CHAPTER ONE

“Shh, what if they hear us!” Liza gasped, pawing at Rake’s wide, painfully delicious chest. He didn’t pay her any heed though, and she bit into her lower lip, her body melting against his touch. A low growl tremored through her as he kissed her neck, and she couldn’t suppress the moan that he brought to her lips, his hands pressing into her lush hips. The swell and drop of the conversation and the music of the party reached them in waves, and the possibility of being found out just made it so much hotter. Her nails grazed across his bare arms, his muscles taut and bulging under her touch.

Could he be any hotter?
she thought feverishly, her hands crawling up his back. He was wearing black slacks and a white tee that hugged him just right. It felt almost lewd looking at him. She didn’t want it to stop. And she barely knew his name.

He kissed a heated trail down her chest, stopping right where her bountiful breasts were pressed together by the luxurious lavender silk of her bridesmaid’s dress. The color was a perfect complement to her mocha skin and hazel eyes. She’d started the night off feeling like a hundred bucks but damn if she didn’t feel like a million now. Her fingers coiled in his dusty blonde hair, tugging him upwards to meet her hungry lips once more. The man was chiseled to perfection from head to toe. He looked even hotter now, with his lips plush from kissing her until it almost hurt, and his breath shallower from the intense heat that pulsed through both of them. She
knew
it wasn’t just her. It was difficult to misconstrue the hard thickness pressed against her thigh as anything but a surefire sign of a man in need.

His tongue collided with hers, and she welcomed it eagerly. The green-eyed devil towered above her luscious 5’9’’ frame and made her feel tiny next to him. Liza wasn’t a small girl by any means but, tucked away in his arms, he made her feel like one. She nipped at his lower lip, and he growled again, sending a hot and cold shiver down her spine. That sound… mmhmm! No doubt that the man was a beast, and she wasn’t even thinking about the fact that he was likely a shifter. Everyone at the party was, it seemed.