“What? You don’t think the mother of your child deserves refreshment? Get the girl a drink.”
Esher winks at me as he pulls a bottle of lemonade from behind his back. I shake my head at the way he loves to tease his mother. Ted Wakefield comes in, and his sparkling blue eyes fit his playful personality. “What are you squawking about, woman?”
Betsy hits his stomach with the back of her hand. “You, old man, are about to become a grandfather. What do you think about that?”
Ted grabs me around the waist, lifts me off the ground, and swings me in a circle as he whoops. He sets me down and says, “I think I’m going to get little feet running around my house and someone one who will laugh at my jokes.” The silver-haired man gazes into my eyes. “Congratulations, Andi.”
“Thanks.” I glance over at Esher as he sips on his beer, and I say, “I did have a little help with all of this.”
Betsy snorts. “Right. He did the easy part. But don’t you worry. I didn’t raise a man afraid of changing diapers.”
Esher asks, “What? Doesn’t anyone in this room remember I’m a pediatrician?”
Mia shakes her head as she says, “Oh Esher, Esher, Esher. You have so much to learn.”
I walk over and lean against his side as he puts an arm around my waist. I say, “I love this family.” He leans down to kiss me.
We follow Betsy and Ted out to the patio behind the house and answer questions about the baby from the rest of the family. Our meal comes together with help from everyone, and it happens seamlessly. As Ted entertains Kayla with a story about her husband as a baby, I take a moment to reflect on my life. I think back to how I spent the last few years fighting to keep the Silver Lake wolves safe. I was so obsessed with making up for my mistake that it never occurred to me werewolves had been fighting the same battle for decades. And that they were capable of protecting themselves. I realize that I should have been working with them all these years.
I smile as I recall my conversation with our alpha, Paul Ryan. He asked me to work on research for the pack and other werewolves across the country. Doors to a whole new scientific world have been opened up to me.
My mate laughs at something his father said, and I gaze at the man who warms me all the way to my toes when we touch. He’s my hero, and the man I’m going to love for the rest of my life. We’re going to raise a family together, as a team.
I place my hand on Esher’s thigh and lean in to speak softly in his ear. “I don’t think I could be any happier than I am right now.”
He puts an arm around my shoulders, and his breath tickles my ear as he says, “You’ve made me incredibly happy too. I love you, Dr. Thompson.”
“Wait, you mean Dr. Wakefield.”
“You’d take my name?” He leans toward me so our noses touch.
“I belong to you, remember?” I place my hand on his cheek, and the slight stubble of his day-old beard is rough against my skin.
“We belong to each other. I love you, Andi.”
“I love you too, Esher.” I kiss him quickly before one of his brothers throws something at us. But I’m too late, and we both take the jeering as his family shares in our love.
----
D on’t miss an installment from V. Vaughn. Sign up for her newsletter .
M ore Winter Valley Wolves :
Brindle
Bosun
Berch
Chosen
Ergan
Ekton
Esher
V. Vaughn also has a bear shifter serial - Called by the Bear .
Complete Edition
Called by the Bear Parts 1-3
Called by the Bear Parts 4-6
Called by the Bear Parts 7-9
Tempted by the Bear :
Tempted by the Bear - Parts 1-3 - Available Now
Tempted by the Bear - Parts 4-6 - November 23, 2015
(preorder available)
Tempted by the Bear - Parts 7-9 - December 21, 2016 (preorder available)
Tempted by the Bear - Complete Edition - December 28, 2016 (preorder available)
M ore Mating Season
Join our Facebook fan group !
Roxy Sloane
Anna Thayer
Cory Doctorow
Lisa Ladew
Delilah Fawkes
Marysol James
Laina Turner
Cheree Alsop
Suzy Vitello
Brian Moore