~

 

“That’s so last season’s look for Vampires,” Connor whispered back, and the bear shifter snorted a chuckle.

“Tell him to shit or get off the damn pot, cos this is his last chance,” Justice said, pushing up to his full height and sidestepping the table. Agatha guessed that was the man’s last word on the subject as he headed for the bar.

“I don’t think his wolf is going to get the hang of crapping in a pot…” Connor grinned, and Justice threw him a scowl back over his shoulder as the vampire walked over to join his friend. “Ooo, someone’s not getting any sleep with their pup at the moment … sense of humour malfunction?”

“Perhaps it’s time that Uncle Connor babysat again…” Justice sneered back.

“Is the little tyke still pooping luminous green with a smell like decaying bodies marinated in swap water?” Connor enquired and Justice huffed. “I’ll take that as a yes, because, frankly, that scent is clinging to you.”

Justice dipped his chin towards his chest and sniffed hard … he pulled his head back and cleared his throat…

“That’s not my fault,” he grumbled.

Agatha couldn’t help but chuckle, and he shot her an apologetic look…

“I can’t smell it,” she held up her hand and waved his worries away. He grunted on a shrug.

“This too shall pass, my friend,” Connor said, walking up behind Justice and slapping him on the back…

“I think my mate wants a big family, so it’ll be a while,” Justice offered back.

“She’s a witch. Maybe she can magic that fragrant scent away,” Connor offered back. “Maybe, make them smell less like little swamp monsters, and more like a good fart.”

Justice rallied towards the vampire, but Connor was already taking a step backwards with his hands held up to his chest in surrender…

“I’ll babysit this weekend,” Connor offered fast. “Kill me now and you won’t get the weekend off to mate your mate.”

Justice grumbled, but then the thought of some alone time with his mate made him brighten a little … he gave a grunt.

“Ah, the way to a man’s heart, time alone with the little woman,” Connor teased.

 

~

~

~

 

Scotch and females. Liam felt his wolf bristling under the surface of his skin and knew that he needed to be around both to keep that wolf in its place…

The beast was on the prowl within him again. It wanted out and he wanted some peace and quiet for once, and the only time that he got that was when the wolf was in full protection mode around the weaker sex.

Liam knew that the beast wanted a pack of its own. Its need to protect was strong and he didn’t have anyone to look out for, keep safe, and keep the wolf content with its lot in life.

Liam didn’t want the full on responsibility of a pack to protect. He knew that there was so much more to being an alpha than just making sure that nothing happened to his people, and so he’d left his old pack when things started to become an issue for his beast.

Now he was on the vampire’s mountain with Dexter’s alpha crew, and that felt ok. Especially as his wolf was still testing the waters within the group.

There were also plenty of human females down in the town that he could kid himself that he was protecting, but what he really needed was a Hail Mary – a mate – and he’d heard tale that the mountain seemed to attract mates, albeit, witches…

He’d been there for nearly three weeks and he hadn’t found a female that he wanted to bed – relieve some pent up tension inside him with – let alone his mate.

He had found a few bears to butt heads with, and that was always good for easing the clawing within him.

Liam slammed the door to his truck and started across the tarmac towards the bar. He picked up the unfamiliar scent of bears in the air and stored them for future reference.

While it was true that he hadn’t met all of Landon’s clan yet, he was looking forward to butting heads with the rest of them in due course…

His eyes scanned the area, and his wolf prickled against his skin. Something didn’t feel right…

The sound of the door to the bar opening, and all the chatter that spilled out from inside, drew his attention in that direction…

He noted the female that walked outside and seemed to scent the air like she hadn’t smelt it in a while. There was a jolt to his senses and a good kick to his stomach at the sight of her being out in the open like that, exposed to her surroundings, and so damn vulnerable.

With the sense that something was off around him gnawing inside, it made his beast push forward to where it clawed just beneath his skin – the wolf was in full protection mode once more…

Liam heard the rustle of foliage that came from off to his left and he didn’t like it. Who hung around in the woods, lurking like that if they weren’t up to no good?

He picked up the scent of the unfamiliar bear once more – and his beast growled long and hard in warning…

One moment he was stalking towards the woman, and the next – he’d sped up, wrapped a hand around her arm, and spun her behind his back with the soft sound of a squeal that came from her lips. He didn’t care – something was about to go down – he could feel it within his bones.

Liam felt his claws and fangs pushing to get out…

“Are you crazy…?” Agatha bit out.

Her shields had gone on hyper alert at the presence of the shifter the moment that she’d seen him coming her way. Now they were being battered by his touch, by his close proximity as they warned her, rather belatedly, that supernatural trouble was near.

Not that she needed her magic to point that one out...

The man was so easily identifiable as a damn shifter. The height, the build, the muscles upon hard muscles … the attitude.

Agatha knew the type – she was a poor defenceless human and he was a big, hard, mean shifter …

Me Tarzan – You Jane. Go figure.

Liam knew immediately that he was dealing with a witch. He didn’t need that to be pointed out by her snarky attitude, or the scent of Fae in the air as he sniffed, looking for signs of those damn bears…

Her scent filled the area around him and it teased and tantalised his whole body into submission. His muscles were already locked and loaded, ready to take on any danger that might show itself, but after taking in her scent – every inch of his body wanted more…

“I think I might just be crazy…” Liam growled back…

He’d done it.

He’d found what he was looking for…

Mine…

His beast stated the claim. Certain that the female was their mate and that was good enough for him.

He didn’t know whether to praise the ancestors, thank fate, or to curse his luck that his mate was a witch.

He didn’t have time to think too hard on that before they came from the darkness and attacked…