The Author's True Mate (The Necklace Chronicles Book Six) Read online

  When they’d meandered their way around the forest and back to the fire, she sat on one of the logs and he joined her, his head in her lap as she talked about her family and her old life. While her tone got sad from time to time, he knew she was truly happy with him, and that’s all that mattered.

  Once he was able to return to his human form, he picked Trinity up and carried her toward their partially finished home. This was the last part of the surprise he had for her, and he couldn’t wait to give it to her.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Trinity didn’t know why Wrath was going to their house, but she was too wound up to ask him questions. Since he’d marked her—which had hurt like a bitch—she’d done nothing but think about making love to him. It might have been the vision of their daughter that filled her with longing, or seeing her sexy man strip naked and change into a huge wolf. Or maybe it was all the reminiscing she did while they waited out his shift.

  Whatever the reason, she couldn’t wait to get him naked again.

  Wrath stepped up into the house and put her down on the wood floor. The house had been framed but not enclosed, and it didn’t have a roof yet. Wrath lit two oil lamps and handed one to her.

  “So,” he said, “this is the family room. You, me, and the kids will have a great time here. I’m picturing games and stories, and lots of love.”

  She smiled. “That was a pretty amazing vision we had.”

  “Indeed.”

  “I can’t wait to meet them.”

  He nodded vigorously. He led her to the sectioned-off area that was covered with blankets.

  “This is where the magic happens.”

  He drew a blanket aside and stepped in, holding it open so she could follow. The flicker of the lamp revealed that he’d brought their bed up from the cavern and placed it in the room. Bunches of lilies were tied with ribbon and tucked in the corners of the room, filling it with a sweet fragrance.

  “Oh, Wrath!”

  He took the lantern from her and set both on the floor a few feet on either side of the bed. He went to his knees in the center of the bed and held out his hand. “The night is ours, sweetheart, let’s chase the moon from the sky.”

  She inhaled, her heart pounding in anticipation as she joined him, her knees sinking into the bedding. He cupped her face, his eyes bright with emotion, then drew her close for a kiss. She loved the way he kissed her, deeply and sweetly, like he couldn’t get enough of her. She felt the same way. She adored his lips and the way he tilted her head and sucked on her tongue. He was a master at kissing her, knew everything that drove her wild, wreaked havoc on her senses.

  Putting her hands on his shoulders, she stroked her fingertips over the broad stretch of smooth, soft skin and down to his taut biceps. Playing her fingers across his chest, she smiled when he growled softly, and the sound made his chest vibrate. He nipped her bottom lip and then kissed across her jaw and down her throat, sucking lightly on the mating mark.

  She gasped at the sensation; the skin now extra sensitive.

  He hummed and licked the spot, then sucked lightly again.

  “Ah, fuck,” she breathed, her skin pebbling and her body flushing.

  “That’s new,” he whispered huskily.

  She let out a giggle. “I like it.”

  He leaned away and grasped the hem of her top, pulling it up and over her head. Her nipples pebbled and he cupped her breasts, rubbing his thumbs over the tight buds. He kissed her again and tugged on the tie that held her skirt closed, tossing the fabric aside.

  “No panties, love? I had no idea.” He brushed his fingers along her hips making her body jerk with the soft touch.

  “Well, less to take off,” she said. “Makes me feel sexy.”

  “You’re the sexiest female I’ve ever known. I wish I’d realized you hadn’t had panties on, I would’ve had some fun with you at dinner.”

  “Next time check,” she said, wiggling her brows.

  He rolled to his back suddenly, moving between her thighs and cupping the front of her body with his hands. The first stroke of his tongue along her folds made her gasp. She leaned forward, bracing herself on the bed with one hand and reaching for his hard cock with the other. She leaned forward enough to lick across his cock, cupping her hand around his length and giving him a few light pumps. He parted her folds with his fingers and licked and sucked on her clit, his fingers and tongue working their magic on her and driving her swiftly toward pleasure.

  Just as she reached the pinnacle, he pulled out from under her, sliding behind her and burying himself to the hilt. He caged her in his arms, and she fell over the edge into pure pleasure, her body gripping his as ecstasy poured over her. She shouted his name, raking her nails down his arms as she shuddered in the throes of passion. He sucked on her throat at the mating mark, sending a riot of sensations through her. As her body ramped up toward pleasure again, he brought them both forward and she caught herself on her arms as he began to move in her. He tilted her hips and she dropped to her elbows, letting him control the speed and force of their pleasure.

  She felt his claws prick her hips and she knew he was close, his beast riding just under the surface, because it was the first time they were making love as official mates. She touched her sensitive bud and rubbed it in time to his thrusts, grinning as he growled in happiness and began to fuck her harder. When she was close, she cried out his name and begged him to come with her, and he did, following her over the edge, their cries of pleasure winding together, his wolf declaring their mating with a deep, loud howl.

  Blissed out, she sank to the bed and he followed, curling around her and holding her tightly. For a long while, they didn’t speak, just reveled in their mating. No one had ever touched her like Wrath, ever made her feel as loved and treasured as he did. She couldn’t believe that she’d even considered going back to her old world for a second. Nothing compared to her beloved mate.

  She rolled to face him and snuggled into him, her ears picking up the sounds of birds and insects in the forest, and the occasional howl from one of the pack as they continued to hunt. “Did we do it?” she asked.

  “What?” Wrath said, his voice rough.

  “Chase the moon from the sky.”

  He lifted his head and looked up at the sky, visible because the roof hadn’t been put on. She followed his gaze. The sky was darker than it had been when they’d started, the moon arcing away from its zenith. The stars were out in force, making the inky blackness look like it was covered with diamonds.

  “I believe we did, sweetheart.”

  She closed her eyes and yawned, contentment blanketing her sweetly. She never would’ve guessed that putting on a necklace a week ago would have changed her life so completely. She wasn’t a romance author anymore, writing in fantasy worlds and dreaming about a man she didn’t think she’d ever meet. She was a marked and mated woman, alpha female to a pack of fearsome—but sweet—Blood Wolves, and one hundred percent in love with Wrath.

  Her dream man, the other half of her heart.

  * * *

  By the time the next full moon came and went, Trinity found herself in an easy rhythm with the life she now lived. She spent her days gardening with Creek and helping Wrath and the others work on the home. She wasn’t drawn to write her fictional stories anymore, but because she’d been a writer for so long, she’d taken to interviewing the Blood Wolves about their lives and families and creating a history of their people. So many of the stories were sad, with parents being killed simply for loving someone other than their own kind. With Mytan by her side, she’d trekked the forest and made a detailed map, and cataloged the various plants and animals they found along the way.

  She met Isolde for tea once a week, and the Blood Wolves spent the full moon with Veltris and Gemma’s pack. Trinity had stayed in the alphas’ house with Gemma and the non-shifting mates and kids and had a great time getting to know everyone.

  For the first time in the history of both their people, there was
peace.

  Isolde joined her, the teacups tinkling on the saucers as she set them on the bistro table in her kitchen. “So, my friend, what’s your news?” Isolde asked.

  Trinity smiled. “I’m pregnant.”

  “Oh! How wonderful!” Isolde stood and hugged her. Trinity chuckled at her enthusiasm.

  “Well, we knew it would happen at some point because of the vision, but we didn’t know the timing.”

  “That’s the funny thing about visions. Sometimes you can get an idea of the time frame judging by exterior things you can see, like leaves turning for fall or spring flowers blooming, but with your vision, I honestly had no idea how long it would be before you had your little girl.”

  Trinity grinned at the image of her daughter in her mind. “Wrath’s not sure what powers she’ll inherit, but he believes she’ll be able to shift.”

  “I’d say so,” Isolde said. “The wolf genes are dominant, but whether she—or any of your children—will inherit vampire genes is hard to say. They might get some, like increased speed or senses, or simply be wolves.”

  “Well, I honestly don’t care so long as she’s healthy.” Trinity looked at her friend and then said, “Have you ever had a vision of your own future?”

  Isolde nodded. “My mother grew ill when I was in my early twenties. She was on her deathbed and wanted to do something for me, so she called forth a vision of my future. I saw myself here in this little house tending to my garden. Two young children came running up to me and hugged me. At first, I thought they might be my own children, but then they called me Auntie Isolde. Since I don’t have any siblings, I thought that was strange, but my mother said obviously I’d forged a relationship with someone special and was a part of their lives. I tucked that vision away in my heart, and I honestly never thought I’d see the day when it came to be.” She stared at Trinity with a curious look, her lips tipped up in a smile.

  Trinity blinked at her a few times and then gasped. “Oh! They’re my kids!”

  “Yes. When I showed you the vision of your future with Wrath, I saw the little girl from my vision, and I knew instantly that you and I were meant to be the best of friends.”

  Trinity hugged her friend again and sniffled. “You are like family to me, Isolde. Like a sister. I’d love for my kids to call you Auntie.”

  “That would be my honor.”

  “I want to ask you if the other child was a boy or a girl, but I kind of don’t want to know,” Trinity said with a chuckle.

  “Well, if it’s any consolation, I only fully saw the little girl. The other child’s face was never turned toward me, so I don’t know whether it was a boy or a girl.”

  “It’s good to have a surprise coming my way,” Trinity said. She laid her hand on her stomach and said, “Did you ever think things would turn out this way?”

  “Not in my wildest dreams.”

  “I’m glad you decided to see what was causing Wrath’s villain-ness.”

  “Me, too. Did he read your book?”

  Trinity rolled her eyes. “He skimmed it, looking for his name. He didn’t want to read the sex stuff between Veltris and Gemma.”

  “What did he think?”

  “I told her I wasn’t nearly so much of a villain as she made me out to be,” Wrath said as he strode into the house. He kissed Trinity on the cheek and laid a basket of fresh eggs on the table. “Here’s half the eggs from your coop for you. Creek wanted me to ask if you’d like him to send some of his egg bread with us next time.”

  Wrath had gotten into the habit of helping out around Isolde’s house while Trinity and her friend chatted. Like Trinity, Wrath thought of Isolde as a sister, and was happy to lend his strength. Or gather eggs, as the case might be.

  “Oh yes, I love his egg bread. He’s so talented,” Isolde said.

  “I fixed the leaky spot in the hen house, too.” He looked at Trinity. “Ready to go, love? It’s almost lunchtime. I could hear your stomach growling from outside.”

  Trinity giggled and finished her tea. “Yep.”

  Isolde walked them to the door and thanked Wrath for his help. Mytan was lying out on the porch in the sun. He rolled to his paws and stretched when he saw them.

  Trinity and Isolde embraced. “I’ll see you next week,” Isolde said. “Be well, my friend.”

  “You, too,” Trinity said.

  Wrath shouldered a pack that contained eggs and took Trinity’s hand, saying goodbye as they turned toward home. Their house was complete, and a new house was being built. The pack had decided that whoever found their true mate next would get the house, but until then, Cael and Rook would share it. Trinity had noticed that the pack had grown hopeful they might find their true mates now that Wrath had, and they’d witnessed what a changed man he was. She really wished she’d have dreamed even once about the pack’s true mates, but she never had. She thought that the dreams were only because she and Wrath weren’t together, and now that they were, her dreams were free of visions of the future and their people.

  She was hopeful that every pack member would find their true mate soon. She wanted her children to have playmates and grow up in a big pack that protected and loved each other.

  Somewhere, the Blood Wolves’ true mates were waiting to be found, and she couldn’t wait to see that happen.

  Wrath and Trinity had gotten their own happily ever after, and she wanted that for everyone in the pack, too.

  She was on the ride of her life, with her hybrid by her side, and it was all because a witch cast a spell on a necklace.

  Coming November 16, 2020 from R. E. Butler

  AnnaRose (Tails Book Four)

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  * * *

  Also from R. E. Butler

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  Blitzen’s Fated Mate

  Dasher’s Fated Mate

  Prancer’s Fated Mate

  Vixen’s Fated Mate

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  Ashland Pride Series

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  Hyena Heat Series

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  Every Blissful Moment

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  The Wiccan-Were-Bear Series Volume Two

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  Volume One (Books 1 and 2)

  Volume Two (Books 3 and 4)

  Volume Three (Books 5 and 6)

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  The Wolf’s Mate Book 1: Jason & Cadence

  The Wolf’s Mate Book 2: Linus & The Angel

  The Wolf’s Mate Book 3: Callie & The Cats

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