Dire Wolf Mates - Chapter 22: Chapter 22

“Are you shitting me?” Sheila practically howled with outrage as Detective Leo Crowley walked into Serious Moonlight and took his usual table in the dining room.
Now that they’d started opening early for lunch, they’d been seeing a lot more of the Lion Shifter, much to his baby cousin’s consternation. Derrick nodded at the cop and winked at his cousin even as she grumbled and snatched a menu from Susan, the new human server and bartender they’d recently hired.
After the attack, the community really seemed to rally together, and support for Serious Moonlight was booming. Of course, they did not know about the supernatural world, but no one liked a terrorist and that was how the public viewed the attack as a war against a friendly MC that had been ostracized and mislabeled by the townies. No one wanted to be seen as politically incorrect these days, so yeah, they had more customers than ever. Either way, things were good.
“Derrick! Where are you?”
He turned as the front door opened and his mate strode in. His eyes went right to her stomach and the beast in him rumbled. True, her belly was only slightly swollen, but he couldn’t help the possessive way he watched her. She was carrying their cubs, and he’d never seen anything so damn beautiful.
“Hey there, kitten. I’m here. Where you off to in such a huff?”
He lifted her to him and dropped a kiss on her mouth, loving the blush that spread across her face and the way her purple eyes glittered with her Cat. The sassy little feline was always asserting herself, especially in bed, and fuck, if he didn’t love it.
“Derrick, Cole got Buddy towed here from Big Tom’s, and now he’s saying the car can’t be fixed!”
“Now, darlin’,” he began, trying to figure out how to broach the subject with his mate.
He’d wanted, no, he’d needed to make sure she was safe and driving that little junker with his cubs was just not happening.
“I see. So, you went and did this, didn’t you?” she asked.
“Now, Lucy, I just want you safe, all of you,” he explained. Picking her up so he could swipe his tongue across her lips.
Fuck, he loved it when her little pink appendage came out to play with his. The woman had one magical tongue. Matched the rest of her.
Lucky Alpha. Lucky man.
“Well, that’s fine, I suppose. But I have an appointment at the doctor’s office, so I guess I’ll just take your wheels.”
She’d been kissing him so sweetly, he didn’t notice her hands searching his back pockets. By the time he did, she’d already snagged the keys to his bike and was jiggling them. Brain still foggy, thinking of ways he was going to make his mate scream his name, Derrick didn’t move until he heard the roar of his twin engines come to life outside the bar.
“What the? Lucy!” he bellowed.
He was already too late. Pregnant and all, by the time Derrick ran outside, it was to see his sassy mate speeding off down the highway on his Harley.
Fucking hell.
He looked around the lot, sensing he was all alone, and ran to the woods, shucking his clothes and bundling them into the knapsack he had stored there. With the straps secure in his mouth, he shifted to his Wolf and started pounding the asphalt to catch up to her. Hopefully, she’d wait inside her doc’s office for him to dress and meet up with her. With a short howl, he pushed his legs harder. Fuck, he loved her. She was his match in every way.
No buts about it.
Derrick growled and used his power to run faster. If he wanted to catch his quick little mate, he needed to shake that sass.
Afterwards, he was taking her car shopping.
The end.
Book 2: Breaking Sass - Blurb&Prologue
Blurb
What happens when a sassy Dire Wolf, with a penchant for breaking rules, and a Lion, who’s in love with the law, clash?
She’s a sassy Dire Wolf with a fondness for speed, and he’s a lethally sexy Lion who knows how to lay down the law. Get ready for fireworks when these two dominant personalities clash!
Sheila Rand is the only female member of the Dire Wolf Motorcycle Club. Rare and powerful Shifters, the Dire Wolf MC has decided to make Blue Valley their permanent home. As the Alpha’s cousin, Sheila’s outspoken nature, and habitual defiance are overlooked by her Packmates, but not by him.
Mr. Law and Order thinks he can break her, but he doesn’t know who he’s dealing with. This she-Wolf does not want a mate. Especially not a puffed up pussycat!
Leonard Crowley is one of Blue Valley Police Department’s only Shifter Detectives. He’s worked hard to keep the Shifter secret, doing his utmost to blend in with mainstream life. With his father ailing, Leo is called home to confront certain issues that have popped up in the Blue Valley Pride. The elders insist he name one of their females as mate to assume his rightful position as King of the Pride, but Leo has a surprise for them.
Leo has already met his mate. He just has to claim her.
Will the feisty couple discover breaking sass is much more fun together?
Prologue:
Damn. Damn. DAMN.
Sheila Rand pulled her Harley Softail Convertible over, coasting to a slow roll and eventual stop on the shoulder of the four-lane New Jersey highway. She’d been out for a spin on her bike alone after closing the bar tonight. It was nothing she hadn’t done a dozen times or more since they’d opened Serious Moonlight in the South Jersey town of Blue Valley.
She tore off her helmet and tossed her mane of fiery red over her shoulder, huffing out an angry sigh. All she’d wanted was some time alone. A few minutes with the wind rushing all around her so she might try to weed out the negative thoughts and worries that had plagued her throughout the long and surprisingly busy day.
Business was good. Her Alpha was happily mated. The female he’d chosen was a real spitfire, and Sheila thoroughly approved of her. Lucy Corwyn was the name of the now pregnant feline Shifter Derrick was completely smitten with. They were downright cozy and wasn’t that annoying in an adorable sort of way?
Grrr.
Easy, girl.
Sheila’s inner beast prowled inside the metaphysical plane where she rested till called. Her evening rides usually helped settle her animal, but of course, tonight was all wonky. Her favorite thing about Blue Valley, the new place of residence for the Dire Wolf Motorcycle Club, was its easy access to the highway. Sheila could really cut loose on the miles of smooth, sleek asphalt in the wee hours of the morning.
Her Pack was off doing whatever they did when they weren’t working or riding. She’d chosen to run with Derrick and his boys when she’d still been young enough to appreciate their wild ways. Oh yeah, their branch of the DWMC had started as a real ragtag group of renegades and nomads. Like all Dire Wolf Shifters, she supposed.
Only they were different. Very recently, Derrick, the boys, and Sheila had all decided to end their time on the road. Dangerous for their kind, but necessary if they wanted to lay down roots, build homes, have families. Her stomach clenched with butterflies, thinking about Derrick and Lucy’s cub.
Lucky, lucky couple.
Sheila didn’t know if it would work in the beginning, them staying in one place. But now that Lucy was growing her cousin’s baby inside her belly, well, it gave all of them a reason to settle. A reason to protect their land and their business. That cub was the future heir to the throne, and the entire Pack couldn’t wait to meet the little blessing.
The fact their kind usually attracted unwanted attention in the form of challenges and brawls with other Shifters didn’t worry Sheila. Because of their size and strength, Dire Wolves often kept their Packs small, but that did not make them any less tough. The elusive Shifters usually stayed on the road to avoid altercations, but they’d staked their claim and they would defend it with their lives.
She liked Blue Valley, contrary to popular belief. Sheila wasn’t trying to leave or missing her old life when she went on these runs. It was just, well, riding a motorcycle was a lot of fucking fun, and she was fond of fun.
Hell to the yeah.
She trusted Derrick, and not just because he was her cousin and Alpha, but because the man had a nose for things. When he’d announced his plans to settle, the whole lot of them had agreed to join him. Tired of life on the road, they all agreed to make a claim on some land and build a home, a Pack house, together.
So, here they were. And here she was. But there was something else in the air Sheila hadn’t counted on when they’d landed here, and that was a restlessness she didn’t want to name.
Shit.
She was no coward, and it was time to face facts. With their Alpha just mated, hope had sprung eternal. The rest of the Pack had started mooning around and looking outside, all of those big, dumb boys wondering if they too would find their fated mates in the small town.
All except for Sheila.
This spunky little she-Wolf was perfectly fine on her own. She didn’t need a man to complete her, or whatever horseshit the graybeards from her old Pack had tried to convince her of when she’d been just a cub. What could a man do for her that Sheila couldn’t do for herself?
Puhleeze.
She was stronger, smarter, faster, and worked harder than most of the guys she knew. Sheila could out cuss, out ride, and shoot more whiskey than half the Shifters she knew, and that was saying something.
Plus, she already knew where her g-spot was. The last guy she dated couldn’t find it with a hand-drawn map or satellite guided assistance, for fuck’s sake.
Pack house was getting stuffy with all the sighs and whines of the lovesick men she’d pledged to ride, and land, with. Overgrown cubs, the whole bunch of them, crying in their beers about needing a mate. Still, Sheila could deal with them. With her Pack.
They’d picked Blue Valley and that meant she did, too. But she’d never ever, never ever signed on to deal with him—that butt-sniffing, post-scratching, lazy feline pain in her ass.
Nuh uh. Not her. No way.
She looked in her rearview mirror at the sedan that had pulled over onto the shoulder behind her with one end sticking slightly into the traffic lane, to protect the person being hassled, of course. The customary siren was perched on the roof, lights flashing. At least the bastard hadn’t turned on the sound.
Silver lining.
Oh, whatever.
He’d been waiting for her to ride by, of course. Crafty fucker. Darn speed traps should be illegal, in her humble opinion. What harm was she doing, taking her frustrations out on the road when no one else in their right mind was out and about at this time? It was the witching hour, after all, and Sheila was feeling mighty crafty.
Should make a big, fat voodoo cat and stick pins right in his you-know-what, she thought with an annoyed snarl. Would be a shame, though. Truth be told, the boy was quite good looking. Nice, big, hard body, and from the semi bulge in his pants, Sheila would bet the Lion was packing something mighty girthy behind his zipper.
Grrrr.
Hush up, she told her horny she-Wolf.
The man certainly was taking his time, but finally, after a few minutes, Sheila’s supposed fated mate stepped out of his vehicle. She watched as he straightened up, and up, and up—he sure was big. His gold eyes flashed in the darkness, and was that a purr coming from his chest as he raked over her body with that possessive gaze of his?
Sheila frowned. She was not an object. He did not own her. And furthermore, she refused to let her inner beast dictate her reactions to this, this—really hot fucking guy. Her she-Wolf could be somewhat pushy at times with her invasive thoughts.
Ugh.
“Put your helmet on the ground, please, and show me your license and registration,” Leo Crowley said in his usual gruff voice.
Gives me goosebumps every single time. Bastard.
“Make me,” she countered.
“Sheila.” His tone held a warning note, but she didn’t give a fuck.
“Detective,” she replied, tossing her hair arrogantly.
“You know, you were doing ninety-five. It’s dangerous on the road at night,” he started.
“For you, maybe. But I was born on the road, detective. Just one more difference between you and me. Now, are you giving me a ticket?”
“Not tonight,” he said, hands on his narrow, rodeo cowboy hips.
“Then can I go?”
Leo growled deep in his chest before nodding sharply, staring at her with those big, golden eyes of his.
“Get home safe, Sheila.”
She ignored his parting words, revved her engine, and shot off like a bat out of hell. Inside her, a storm was brewing, and the reason was that man. Why couldn’t he just walk away? She’d told him now a hundred times.
So, what if her she-Wolf was up in arms over the man? Sheila the human was decidedly not. He was all wrong for her. A cop, for fuck’s sake, when she’d been raised to flout the law.
No, no, no. Leo Crowley was not for her.
Mine.
No.
Grrr.
Quit it.
Fate might have decided Detective Leo Crowley was her mate, but Sheila wasn’t about to go down without a fight. She was going to break that crush right out of that man, one sassy comment at a time. Then Sheila would have what she’d always wanted above all else.
Her freedom.