~

 

Angela’s bottom jaw sagged downwards as her eyes snapped from Dorothy to her mate and back to Dorothy’s back with the kind of glare that could kill if she just put a little magic behind it…

The trouble was; she was too blindsided to be able to do much of anything…

“Well, I don’t see why – she looks good to me…” Lark said, and when Angela snapped her eyes back to his face, the man had a wolfish grin that made her flush from head to toe…

“A little ironing wouldn’t go a miss…” Dorothy chuckled, before she disappeared through the doorway at the end of the hall.

Angela’s bottom jaw moved up and down, and her lips tried to form a word or two, but there weren’t any that came to mind – at least, nothing that she wanted to repeat…

“Well, would you look at that,” Lark folded his arms across his broad chest and gave her a long and somewhat gleeful look. “Lost for words. Is that a first for you?”

His words snapped Angela right out of the haze of mortification that had gripped her, and she flicked her wrist at the man and watched with satisfaction as he caved in at the middle. A huff of breath left his body as the pain hit him hard, and a grunt of annoyance followed…

“Oh, look at that – got a tap to the family jewels – I’m betting that’s not a first for you…” Angela said, feeling a little more sprightly in her step as she flounced away from him…

 

~

~

~

 

“I think we’ve already proven that you can’t run from me, Sarah…” Nathan said as he followed hard on her heels when she entered the back door to the property…

“I think we’ve already proven that man really can fly … with a little help from a witch,” she offered back over her shoulder by way of a warning for him to drop it.

She was in no mood to discuss them – their relationship – then or in the future – especially not mating, and she didn’t need to hear the little gloat that resided within his voice.

“Hey,” Nathan reached out and snagged her upper arm, closing his large hand around her, and bringing her around to face him.

Nathan’s eyes had darkened at the threat from the vampires, and they hadn’t lightened back to normal since they’d left. She’d really rather look anywhere but into those sinfully sexy eyes…

“Not now, Nathan…” she needed to take stock of what was happening. She’d found a mate – and a vampire Aunt. If she wasn’t in shock then she thought she probably should be.

“I have time…” Nathan shrugged. “I just wanted you to know that I’m here for you…”

“That’s part of the problem, don’t you think?” Sarah asked, tipping her head to one side and regarding him with something approaching curious disbelief.

“Only if you make it one,” Nathan offered back and watched as her brow furrowed.

“I have a vampire Aunt – two elderly witches to protect – no idea what to do with this Inn – and …” she motioned towards him…

“Me…”

“A mate. All in all, I’d have to say that it’s been one of those days. A day when you regretted getting out of bed at all in the morning. A day when life decided it’s going to steamroller right over the top of you…” She was rambling, she knew it, and now he knew it too, and yet, she felt like she was a pressure cooker that was on the verge of exploding…

“Break it down and take it one problem at a time…”

“I’d have to say that you’d be the last on a very long list…” Sarah saw him wince, and yet it was fleeting.

“I can live with that,” Nathan assured her, even while his wolf started to rise within him, clawing just under the skin…

His beast wanted to take her burden – be her protector – and possibly kill her aunt, thus ending one of her problems there and then – maybe two of them if Monty killed him for it…

Nathan wanted much the same. Although, he wasn’t too keen on killing off Chloe.

He’d known the witch – the woman – and she was a good person. He tried to have faith in her and hoped that she would become one of the good vampires too.

He’d like to give her the chance to prove him right. Monty was also a friend to the pack and he didn’t want to end the vampire’s mate without a damn good reason…

“Trust me to keep you and Dorothy safe for the foreseeable future while Chloe acclimatises to become…”

“A blood sucking leech with a wonky moral compass and the capacity to show that she’d a killing machine…” she considered it. Her words might have been light-hearted, but the sentiment wasn’t.

Nathan tried to hold onto the smile that took his lips, but it was almost impossible…

“Yes.” He offered back.

“Hmm, tempting. But my Aunt – my problem…”

“My mate – my problem…”

“Dorothy’s your mate?” she was teasing now…

“I have another brother, maybe she’s his mate…” he grinned at the thought.

His brother certainly wouldn’t find it funny – which would have made it all the more sweet in his eyes…

“That would be slightly … iffy…” Sarah screwed up her face. “Although, I’m sure Dorothy wouldn’t mind finding a toy-boy, or maybe that should be a toy-wolf.”

“I think she’d even know what to do with one if she found him. The woman is…”

“A flirt.” Sarah giggled.

“Of the very best kind.” Nathan nodded. “Maybe you should take a leaf out of her book.”

Nathan reluctantly let her arm go when she started to fold her arms. With a quick flick of his eyes downwards; he noted the way that move pushed up her ample breasts and he had to bite right down on the growl that rumbled inside of him…

“Trying to change me already, alpha?” Sarah asked, narrowing her eyes on the man.

She saw the rush to panic and had to press her lips together so that she didn’t grin like a big flashing neon sign and let him off the hook so easily … she’d like it if he squirmed, just a little, just enough.

“I wouldn’t do that … you’re perfect as you are…”

That’s … wow … talk about sucker punched – blindsided…

Oh, he’s good ….

I’ve got his damn number…

Charmer!

Probably spent his adult life charming the kickers off every girl he sees … well, I’m not them … the elastic on my panties is a reinforced grade A premium brand … they ain’t gonna drop so damn easily!

A few words and those sexy eyes … nope. Not happening … just yet…

Just yet?

Did I really just…?

Hmm, I need to regroup.

I need to get away from Mr Sexy Wolf and have some me time.

I haven’t had me time since I got here, what with Angela and Dorothy … now him and the elder …

I don’t even want to think about the vampires lurking in the garden like assassin gnomes…

She lifted her fist and coughed BS into it.