“C’mon. I’ll take you inside. I think she was hoping you’d show up.” Tessa angled her head. “My gut was right about you. You didn’t stand her up.”
He smiled, shaking his head. “Nope. And even if I wanted to, my wolf wouldn’t let me. She’s the one, Tessa.” He winkled. “If you know what I mean. One in a million.”
“So, my Cinderella is getting her fairytale then?”
He shrugged. “That’s up to her.”
Tessa led the way and then politely excused herself. “I think you need to talk, alone. I’m taking your keys, Izzy.” She jangled the set, trying to get her attention. “I’ll crash at the studio tonight, if you need me.”
Neither Izzy nor Zander said a word or even acknowledged her leaving. Their eyes met and held.
He slipped onto the coffee table in front of the couch. They were knee to knee, and he rubbed her thighs through her leggings. She looked beautiful, even though she’d been crying.
“Why did you run?” he asked. “There was no reason. I was there.”
Her breath hitched in her throat. “I don’t know, Zander. I was scared.”
“Of what? Me?”
She sat up straighter and covered his hands on her thighs with her own. “No, of course not. I was afraid of myself. I didn’t know how to get back to being…well, me.”
He laughed out loud and then lifted her fingers to his lips, kissing her knuckles. “It’s simple, Iz. You just have to picture yourself in your human form, and poof. You shift. It’s the same way the other way ‘round, too. I told you it might take something profound to spark your first shift. From what you said, you were too young when your mom died. I’m surprised it didn’t happen when your dad passed.”
“I told you, we weren’t close.”
He nodded. “I’m just sorry I wasn’t there to help when it was happening.”
“I was so angry.” Her voice was low and her chin dropped to her chest.
He lifted her face so she had to look at him. “There is no reason for you to be upset with yourself. You had every reason to be angry, and you know what? You had the last laugh. That chick Alison? She duped Candice Gordon for the last five years. She showed up claiming to be the long-lost daughter she gave up for adoption, and it was a scam. You were the one she should have banked on. Not that impostor.”
Isabel’s mouth dropped open. “Holy shit! Poor Candice.”
He kissed her fingers again. “I was right, you are too nice.” He fished in his pocket for his phone. “I have something to show you.” Clicking on his screen, he scrolled to the last picture taken. “It’s your paw print.” He handed her the phone and watched as she stared at the image.
“At first I couldn’t figure out why it seemed so familiar, but after I left the party it hit me. Your pack is the same as my mom’s.”
“My pack?” Isabel’s eyes jerked up from the pic.
He nodded. “Yes. I told you your scent told me you were wolf, and I was right.”
“So, I’m the same pack as your mother?”
He nodded again.
“Ugh, please tell me we’re not related. I don’t think I could survive if you tell me I just slept with my cousin.”
He laughed. “We’re not related, Izzy. Not by blood, anyway. You just belong to the same pack as my mom. It’s huge. Very old and very strong. Why your father never let you know your family is beyond me. They’re good people.”
She glanced at the pic again. “I always assumed they didn’t want anything to do with me for the same reason they never accepted him as my mother’s husband.” She shrugged. “Human blood.”
Zander frowned. “That is the only reason that would hold water. But things have changed. The mark on you paw belongs to a single branch of the West Russian River pack, and if my nose is correct, I know your grandmother. I used to visit her when I was a child.”
Izzy balked. “My grandmother?”
He nodded. “Maybe one day you’ll let me take you to meet her. She’s strong and sassy, and I guarantee they would welcome you with open arms. Especially since you’re my mate.”
Her eyes found his and held. “Am I your mate?”
“As far as I’m concerned, yes, but I told you, you have to accept me, first.” He moved from the coffee table and slid onto the couch beside her.
Isabel barely waited for him to get his butt on the cushion before she straddled his lap. She snaked her arms around his neck and kissed him. “Take me, Zander. Mate me, bite me. Make me yours forever.”
He growled against her lips, the hard bar of his cock pressing between her legs. “Ready for the ride of your life?” he asked.
She nodded. “Ready and willing. Let the magic swirl.”
About the Author
Award Winning Author
Hi everyone! I’m Marianne Morea. I was born and raised in New York, and there’s nothing like the ‘the city that never sleeps’ to inspire sexy stories and romantic suspense. I began my career after college as a budding journalist and later earned a Masters in Fine Art, from The School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, but it’s my lifelong love affair with words and books, and the fantasies and ‘what ifs’ they stir, that finally led me to do what I love most. Write. I live in New York with my hubby and our three children, two dogs, one cat and a lizard named fingers. I’m always interested in chatting with readers, so sign up for my newsletter and check out my Facebook page and Instagram!
Email: mariannea@mariannemorea.com
Visit her website: http://www.mariannemorea.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mariannemoreaauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarianneMorea
Follow me on Instagram at: Marianne_Morea
If you enjoyed the story, please feel free to email me. Reviews are always welcome on Amazon and Goodreads!
Also by Marianne Morea
Check out Marianne’s KINDLE WORLD Books
LUCKY SASS (Sassy Ever After – Catamount Series)
SASS IN THE CITY (Sassy Ever After –Catamount Series)
DRAGON MY HEART AROUND (Paranormal Dating Agency)
Other Series by Marianne Morea
THE CURSED BY BLOOD SAGA
Hunter’s Blood (Series intro)
Night Play (HOT!)
Twice Cursed (Book Hangover Possible!)
Blood Legacy (Icy Hot Vamp Romance)
Lion’s Den (Will make you cry!)
Power Play (Hot and Suspenseful!)
Collateral Blood (Vampire Suspense!)
*Condemned (Vampire Suspense!)
*Scheduled for release in 2018
THE LEGEND SERIES (Teen)
Hollow’s End (Witch Suspense)
Time Turner (Time Travel Suspense)
Spook Rock (Ghost Suspense)
THE BLESSED SERIES
My Soul to Keep (Angels and Demons)
*Celestial (Angels and Demons)
*Scheduled for release in 2018
THE RED VEIL DIARIES
(Vampire and Shifter Erotic Romance)
Choose Me
Tempt Me
Tease Me
Taste Me
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author
Hi! I’m Milly Taiden. I love to write sexy stories featuring fun, sassy heroines with curves and growly alpha males with fur. My books are a great way to satisfy your craving for paranormal romance with action, humor, suspense and happily ever afters.
I live in Florida with my hubby, our boys, and our fur children “Needy Speedy” and “Stormy.” Yes, I am aware I’m bossy, and I am seriously addicted to iced caramel lattes.
I love to meet new readers, so come sign up for my newsletter and check out my Facebook page. We always have lots of fun stuff going on there.
SIGN UP FOR MILLY’S NEWSLETTER FOR LATEST NEWS!
http://eepurl.com/pt9q1
For for information
millytaiden.com
milly@millytaiden.com
Also by Milly Taiden
If you liked this story, you might also enjoy the following by Milly Taiden:
Sassy Mates / Sassy Ever After Series
Scent of a Mate Book One
A Mate’s Bite Book Two
Unexpectedly Mated Book Three
A Sassy Wedding Short 3.7
The Mate Challenge Book Four
Sassy in Diapers Short 4.3
Fighting for Her Mate Book Five
A Fang in the Sass Book 6
Also, check out the Sassy Ever After Kindle World on Amazon
Also by Milly Taiden
Shifters Undercover
Bearly in Control Book One
Fur Fox’s Sake Book Two
Drachen Mates
Bound in Flames Book One
Bound in Darkness Book Two
Bound in Eternity Book Three
Bound in Ashes Book Four (coming soon)
A.L.F.A
Elemental Mating Book One
Mating Needs Book Two (coming soon)
Dangerous Mating Book Three (coming soon)
Fearless Mating Book Four (coming soon)
Also by Milly Taiden
Federal Paranormal Unit
Wolf Protector Federal Paranormal Unit Book One
Dangerous Protector Federal Paranormal Unit Book Two
Unwanted Protector Federal Paranormal Unit Book Three
Also by Milly Taiden
Black Meadow Pack
Sharp Change Black Meadows Pack Book One
Caged Heat Black Meadows Pack Book Two
Paranormal Dating Agency
Twice the Growl Book One
Geek Bearing Gifts Book Two
The Purrfect Match Book Three
Curves ‘Em Right Book Four
Tall, Dark and Panther Book Five
The Alion King Book Six
There’s Snow Escape Book Seven
Scaling Her Dragon Book Eight
In the Roar Book Nine
Scrooge Me Hard Short One
Bearfoot and Pregnant Book Ten
All Kitten Aside Book Eleven
Oh My Roared Book Twelve
Piece of Tail Book Thirteen
Kiss My Asteroid Book Fourteen
Be sure to check out the Paranormal Dating Agency Kindle World. Available on Amazon
Also by Milly Taiden
Raging Falls
Miss Taken Book One
Miss Matched Book Two
Miss Behaved Book Three
Miss Mated Book Four (Coming Soon)
Miss Conceived Book Five (Coming Soon)
Also by Milly Taiden
FUR-ocious Lust - Tigers
Fur-Bidden Book One
Fur-Gotten Book Two
Fur-Given Book Three
FUR-ocious Lust - Tigers
Stripe-Tease Book Four
Stripe-Search Book Five
Stripe-Club Book Six
Also by Milly Taiden
Night and Day Ink
Bitten By Night Book One
Seduced by Days Book Two
Mated by Night Book Three
Taken by Night Book Four
Dragon Baby Book Five
Dragon’s Prize Book Six (Coming Soon)
Other Works
Wolf Fever
Fate’s Wish
Wynter’s Captive
Sinfully Naughty Vol. 1
Don’t Drink and Hex
Hex Gone Wild
Hex and Kisses
Alpha Owned
Match Made in Hell
Alpha Geek
Also by Milly Taiden
Contemporary Works
Lucky Chase
Their Second Chance
Club Duo Boxed Set
A Hero’s Pride
A Hero Scarred
Wounded Soldiers Set
If you enjoyed the book, please consider leaving a review, even if it's only a line or two; it would make all the difference and would be very much appreciated.
Thank you!