TalyaWe were home. Rondy was upstairs in a small room on the third floor being cared for by Becca. The rest of us were downstairs explaining what happened. Conner and Asia disposed of the human bodies and joined us at the tail end of the conversation.Ivan stood next to me while I reclined in a chair; everyone else was in chairs or on the floor. He took my hand and pulled me up. "My mate and I will return in an hour. Meet us back here at that time."He didn't give me a chance to protest. We left the house and within a few minutes I realized we headed to the cabins. Ivan lit a candle after we entered. The look on his face was not friendly, sexy, or welcoming. He began to pace and my heart sank. I couldn't take rejection from him again.He finally stopped. "I can't picture her face. Her smile is forever gone to me. You fill my head." He grabbed his head and at that moment I wanted to die. But Ivan wasn't finished. "I hate you. Everything about you. Your smell. The way you follow me

TybollHer hands move over my chest, her fingers silky smooth as they glide slowly downward. As she lowers herself to kneel before me, she trails kisses along my fevered flesh. I'm so hard I could burst at just the picture she presents. Fiery red hair covers her face and it's in my way. I want to see her lips surround me. I sweep her hair aside and...A heavy weight lands beside me and I groan into my pillow. "Come on, grumpy old bear. It's time to go."It takes me a few seconds to separate the dream from reality. I'm in my cabin, in bed, and the last thing I want to do is wake up. And I hate red hair. "Mandy, get out of here," I grumble. She doesn't need to see her adopted father with an erection. I can't help wondering if all female wolf shifters are as irritating as she is."If I leave, you'll fall back to sleep and we'll never get there," she grumbles back. I know that her complaint will turn into a low whine if I don't get up."I'll be out front in five minutes, but the clock

TybollI watch the stunned look on Veda's face with a sense of pride. Mandy does this to people. No one is exempt. A smile cracks Veda's stoic face. It changes her. For the first time, I see the same beauty Mandy spoke of after we entered Veda's cabin. Unfortunately, I knew of the witch's cold heart. I had asked her for one thing in my life - begged, actually - and she denied me.Twins are a great gift. If we're lucky, they will be just like their father. We can't handle two more Mandys. Mandy releases Veda and runs to me. I can't contain my grin. Veda raises her eyebrows. I'm not known for smiles, but what can I do when Mandy's arms are wrapped tightly around me? Her joy is infectious.My stomach rumbles.Odd.It rumbles again followed by a severe cramp that makes me release Mandy and stand from my chair. Veda's grin widens.She wouldn't!"What's wrong?" Mandy's concerned voice makes me stare daggers at the witch. "If you poisoned her, too, I will kill you.""No, only you, y

VedaI shake my hand and laugh. Holding the wiggling ball away from me, I look into her small face. "You don't scare me." She tries to nip me again, but she can't reach. "Teething, I see. You should have all but your back molars in by now. Let's see what I have to help." I look back to Mandy. "Can I place her on the floor while I check my cupboard?""As long as you have nothing of value that will perish under sharp teeth. Could I have some tea also? I need to calm my nerves."My heart sinks slightly. "It must have been hard to bring your child out here to me."Mandy looks stunned. "Umm, no. That was the easy decision this morning. I'm arguing with my mate and I don't want to be around him. Out here, he may not find me."The bear cub bites the tip of my toe. I squeal and laugh. She's absolutely adorable. "You watch her while I make us tea and give her something to chew on. I know just the thing."Mandy walks over to the table and sits down. "She's a handful and I have no idea what

VedaNo, No, No! This can't be. It's impossible. I cannot mate. It has never happened. Why would the Goddess do this? I run until I can no longer place one foot in front of the other. My legs quiver, my sides heave. Thinking I'll never have a child is one thing. Mating a bear and making it reality is something else entirely. I thought I had given up all hope of motherhood but I lied to myself. To never hold the soft skin of a child against me again is more painful than I can bear. Now that I know the feeling, inhaled Demetria's scent, it's just that much more agonizing.Each she-witch before me followed the same path. Time with our mother until it's time for us to receive the gift. Years of loneliness until our time to produce a child comes upon us. Then we have our own child to make the isolation tolerable. It's the cycle of a witch's life. Why would I be the one to end it?I curl into a ball, shift, and cry as only a human female can. I don't want to be alone. I want a family. I w