Chapter Four

 

Vaughn had never been one to entertain people, and he’d worried that having Tulip in his house would be tiresome, but she was actually very good company. She’d been fascinated with movies but had fallen asleep during the second one. He’d let her nap on the couch, and when she’d woken, they’d had dinner. Shortly after, she’d asked to go to bed. Now she was tucked into his king size bed in his bedroom, her scent filling the room. His pants tightened as he thought about how sweet she’d looked lying there.

He'd picked up the house a little after she’d gone to bed, had checked on her a few times, and now it was nearing midnight, and he knew he needed to get some sleep. Vaughn made sure the alarm was still engaged before checking Tulip one last time. He paused in the master bedroom doorway. A swirling mist of bright lights surrounded the bed and he growled low in warning. Prowling closer to Tulip, who slept soundly, he swatted at the twinkling lights.

The lights slowly faded until the room was dark once more. He sniffed the air, trying to figure out what had almost taken Tulip. Fae. But not like her. Light fae? How had they found her, and what did they want with her? The thought of someone wishing her harm was enough to make him want to tear something apart. It was irrational, but as he gazed at the woman lying in his bed, he knew he’d do anything to protect her. And now, just because Gabriel had declared that she was to be trusted, there was something about her that pulled at him.

Vaughn looked around the room again, not trusting the lights. They could come back if he left her alone, and then what would happen? Would they take her? Kill her? He kicked off his boots and stretched out next to Tulip, pulling her tightly against his chest. No one was going to harm her as long as he was around. She snuggled against him, her breath soft against his chest as she got comfortable.

The hours passed but Vaughn didn’t dare close his eyes. He needed to tell someone about the fae coming into his home, but he knew the family was with Autumn at the hospital, which meant both alphas were there. Pulling his phone from his pocket, he sent a text to Aislinn, asking for the wizard to please come to his house in the morning. Vaughn was certain he could keep Tulip safe until then. At least, he hoped he could. He’d never taken on a bunch of fae by himself, but it didn’t mean he wouldn’t fight to the death, if it came to it.

As the sun crept through the bedroom windows, he finally closed his eyes and allowed his body to relax. Just an hour of sleep. That’s all he needed. Holding Tulip close made his beast feel at peace, something that had never happened before just from holding a woman. It made him wonder if perhaps Tulip wasn’t just any woman. What if she was his mate? Gabriel had said she belonged to someone in the pack. What if that someone was him?

The next time he opened his eyes, Tulip was watching him sleep, her body still curled against his.

“You slept with me?” she asked softly.

How much did he tell her? He didn’t want to frighten her.

“I was worried about your safety,” he said.

She looked around the room and back at him. “They came for me, didn’t they? The dark fae came, and somehow, your presence frightened them off.”

“Light fae, I think. There was a mist with yellow twinkling lights. I don’t know what they wanted, and I didn’t ask. I tried to scare them off so they would leave you alone, but I didn’t want to go upstairs to sleep in case they came back.”

“I should shower.”

He sniffed along her neck and his beast rumbled in pleasure. “You smell good to me.”

“You’re just being nice.”

“No. I’m not.”

He watched her lips, wanting to taste them, but not wanting to frighten her either. Tulip leaned a little closer, and then slowly brushed her mouth against his. Vaughn growled and held her tighter. His lips moved against hers and when she opened, his tongue slipped inside for a taste. Honey and vanilla. Tulip clung to him as he deepened the kiss and took everything she offered. Her hands pulled at his shirt and he swiftly removed it before taking her in his arms again.

He wanted her. His beast wanted her.

Her small hands caressed his skin, fanning the flames of his desire. The dress she’d worn yesterday rode up to her hips and his hand slid down to cup her ass, pulling her tighter against him. The wolf inside begged him to claim their mate, to make her theirs in every sense of the word. There was a hum to the air and then a cool breeze caressed his naked flesh. Vaughn drew away from her sweet lips, a smile on his face as he realized her magick was working again, and had divested them of their clothes. It seemed she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

He rolled her so that she lay beneath him, her thighs spreading to cradle his body. The tip of his erection brushed against her. She was so damn wet; he groaned a little as he ravaged her mouth with his. Her legs wrapped around him, her heels digging into his ass, as if she were urging him on.  Vaughn thrust his hips, entering her in one stroke.

“Yes!” Tulip cried out.

She was so damn tight that he wanted to stay inside her forever. He pulled out and pushed back in, her body welcoming him. Tulip dug her nails into his shoulders as he took her harder, faster. Soft cries escaped from her as he nipped her neck, his teeth lengthening. A haze came over him as he took her with a ferocity that should have scared him, but just felt so incredibly right. With a savage growl, he bit into her shoulder, marking her as his for all of eternity.

Tulip gave another shout of pleasure and then she was coming hard, covering him with her cream. It triggered Vaughn’s release and he let go of her shoulder, lapping at it to heal the wound. A cloud of white and purple lights surrounded them, a yellow haze wrapping around their bodies. Vaughn knew it was Tulip, could feel it in his bones.

“You bit me,” she said, no accusation in her eyes, merely wonderment.

“I should have asked.”

“I’m yours?” she asked.

“Forever.”

“Forever’s a long time,” she said softly, a smile on her face. “But it no longer stretches out into eternity.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means I will now age at a faster rate than a fae, and you will age at a slower rate than a wolf. The two of us will have three hundred years together in this realm, and our children will live just as long. Half fae, half wolf.”

“Will the alpha’s children be the same?” Vaughn asked, not liking the idea of his kids surviving beyond those of their pack mates.

“I’m not sure, since Autumn is only half fae. But they will live longer than a normal shifter.”

“We should shower and dress. I asked Aislinn to have the wizard stop by.”

“Wizard?”

“It’s what we sometimes call the sorcerer.”

She nodded. “I’ve heard of him, but never had the pleasure of meeting him.”

“I’m already here!” the sorcerer called out from the other room. “Would the two of you hurry the hell up?”

Vaughn narrowed his eyes at the open bedroom door and Tulip giggled. More lights swirled around them and he looked down, noting that she’d cleaned and dressed them. He kissed her softly before helping her off the bed. Eric was leaning against the living room wall, when they found him, looking amused.

“I hope Gabriel knew what he was doing leaving that fae under your protection.”

“He said she belonged to someone in the pack. Last night, I realized she was mine.” Vaughn pulled Tulip closer. “The light fae came after her last night.”

“I don’t think they want to harm her,” Eric said. “I haven’t felt malevolence in the area recently. If they wanted her blood, I’d have sensed it. Not that I’d have intervened since I didn’t know anything about her until this morning.”

“The dark fae will come for me,” Tulip said. “I escaped from their dungeon.”

Eric tipped his head to the side as he scanned Tulip from head to toe. “You don’t look like a dark fae to me.”

“We think she’s only half, and maybe half-light fae,” Vaughn said.

“I’ll see what I can find out,” Eric said. “In the meantime, keep a close eye on her. Don’t go to work, unless you leave her protected. I don’t think they’ll care that she’s mated to you, and carrying your firstborn.”

Tulip gasped and Vaughn’s eyes widened.

“Firstborn?” Vaughn asked.

“Your claiming did the trick. So, congratulations, daddy. You’ll have the first half fae, half wolf in the pack. Autumn had a daughter last night. She’s half fae and half human, and will one day rule the light fae.”

“None of our children will be fully fae or fully wolf?” Vaughn asked.

“No. Tulip is different, even though I can’t figure out what’s so strange about her energy signature. Like I said, I’ll do a little digging and see what I can come up with. Keep her close, keep her safe. I’ll be in touch.”

Before either Vaughn or Tulip could ask another question, the sorcerer vanished into thin air. Tulip leaned against him and Vaughn wondered if she was still weak. He picked her up and carried her over to the sofa, where he laid her down. She looked a little dazed as she rubbed her still very flat belly. Vaughn knelt beside her and pressed a kiss against her stomach and then her lips.

“I should feed you,” he said. “Pancakes and sausage okay?”

“Anything would be good right now. I’m starving.” She smiled a little. “Can I come sit in the kitchen while you make it?”

He nodded.

Tulip stood up and reached for his hand, lacing their fingers together. She seemed very accepting of the mate claim, even though he hadn’t asked before doing it. He’d thought she would be furious with him, but she seemed…happy. In the kitchen, he whipped up two stacks of pancakes and a plate a sausage links. Tulip looked like she was about to start drooling as he set a plate in front of her along with a fork and a bottle of syrup. She’d eaten one pancake and two pieces of sausage by the time he’d gotten their drinks and sat down with his plate.

He smiled, thinking how cute she was in the morning, eating like a ravenous wolf. When they were finished, he sat back as she used her magick to clean the kitchen. He was glad that Tulip was feeling better, but he didn’t want her to overdo it either. He got a cup of coffee for each of them, offering her cream and sugar.

“What do you want to do today?” he asked as he sipped at his.

“Could we go see the new baby? Or will I not be welcome there?”

“You’re part of the pack now. You’ll be welcome at any pack events, including any births. Do you want to go shopping first and pick up something for the newest pack member? Something pink and frilly?”

She smiled. “That sounds like fun.”

“At some point, I need to teach you how to drive, and we’ll have to get you a car. I don’t want you stranded at home because I’m working. I know fae do that disappearing thing like the sorcerer does, but humans aren’t used to seeing that happen. You could cause widespread panic if you were out somewhere and willed yourself home.”

“Another day. I don’t think I’m ready to take on something as big as a car right now. Maybe you could teach me to cook using your human appliances though.”

“I can do that.” He smiled. “We can head out whenever you’re ready.”

“Can I finish this coffee first? It’s rather good.”

“You drink your coffee and I’ll contact the alpha to let him know we’re coming to the hospital. I don’t want to surprise him while he’s in overprotective mode. And he’ll need to know you’re one of us now.”

She nodded and stared into her cup. He could feel the worry rolling off her and he wished he could soothe her.  But she had a reason to be anxious. Gabriel would tear apart anyone he saw as a threat to his child, and he would be more savage than usual. Not that Vaughn thought the alpha would harm Tulip, but he would be fearsome to behold. Vaughn wondered if he would be the same way when his son or daughter came along. It still left him a little dizzy, thinking about being a dad.

The sorcerer had never been wrong before though. If Eric said they were expecting a child, then Vaughn would take the man’s word for it. He had to admit, it was rather exciting, if a bit scary. He only hoped that he could neutralize the threat to Tulip as soon as possible. Once the light fae knew she wasn’t going to harm them, maybe they would help protect her. At any rate, he could hope.