Save a Horse, Ride a Werewolf (Smokey Falls Woves Book 2) Read online

  Save a Horse, Ride a Werewolf

  Smokey Falls Wolves Book 2

  V. Vaughn

  Sugarloaf Press

  Copyright © 2018 by V. Vaughn

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Cover by Renee George

  Editing by Jodi Henley, Red Adept Publishing and Angie Ramey

  *This is an expanded and revised version of V. Vaughn's previously published book, Bite My Sass written in Milly Taiden's Sassy Mates World.

  Contents

  About This Book

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  About the Author

  About This Book

  As a child, Jayden used to imagine finding her true love and having a storybook wedding. As an adult, she never expected it to come true. She grew up with a single mother and knew the harsh reality of not-so-happy endings. Meeting Alex and discovering the true-mate love of a werewolf was a dream come true. Now Jayden’s planning her wedding and looking forward to becoming a werewolf and part of a big family in the form of a wolf pack.

  But Jayden’s picture-perfect life is threatened the day her mother comes to town. While Rosemary doesn’t know about werewolves, a secret that has to be kept in order to keep the Smokey Falls pack safe, that’s the least of Jayden’s problems. Rosemary has a way of getting what she wants, and in the process of fighting to have the wedding of her dreams, Jayden alienates Alex. When he tells Jayden he’s no longer sure she’s fit to be a werewolf, she has to learn to accept the most important thing of all – the love of family.

  One

  "Whoa," says Juliet as she stares at the multiple aisles of wedding dresses in the back storeroom of Diana's Bridal Shop. "There's got to be thousands of them, Jayden. How are you supposed to choose?"

  "With a little help from her friends," Diana, the owner says. She's the motherly type wearing khaki dress slacks and a pale-yellow fitted blouse untucked, and she gives me a cheerful smile that makes me feel as if everything will work out fine. "This rack," she says as she walks over and puts a hand on the end, "is Jayden's size. You can team up and start at either end."

  "Okay," says Chelsea as she takes charge. "Strapless is out because we don't want Jayden to spend the day yanking her dress up."

  Alisha whispers, "Strapless will make your boobs look amazing. She's just saying that because she doesn't have any to hold a dress up."

  I elbow her as I suppress a giggle, because I know Alisha meant it in a teasing way. Chelsea was my roommate in college, and we're a bit closer in this friend group the way Alisha and Juliet are. I already know Chelsea projects in most situations where she really cares, and I find it endearing. Juliet hushes Alisha as Chelsea continues. And we let her, because we've been down this road with her a million times. The four of us became besties the first week of college, and Chelsea's been trying to tell us what to do since then.

  "Shoulders, fitted bodice to the waist, and white. Got it," says Juliet as she grabs my arms and leads us to the end of the row.

  "You didn't listen to me, did you?" asks Chelsea.

  "Of course she did," says Alisha as Juliet and I walk away. "She's just abbreviating it. Looking for what you've allowed is much easier."

  "Hmm," Chelsea says, "I guess we know who's going to find the right dress. Don't we?"

  "Have at it," Juliet says under her breath now that we're at our end of the rack. I have to give her credit. She's the mate of the Smokey Falls wolf pack's alpha and is just as much the pack leader as he is. She's showing great restraint with Chelsea right now.

  Clear plastic protective bags crackle under my touch as I begin to sort through dresses, and I picture my dream wedding gown in my mind. It's got a V-neck with spaghetti-straps. I imagine it's formfitting but not tight, all the way down below my hips to emphasize my round butt and smaller waist, and the dress eventually flares out at the bottom mermaid style. Beading is heavy on the top and cascades down like vines to the hem. I've been fantasizing about this dress since I was a girl and used to have a scrapbook to prove it.

  I realize I'm not going to find my ideal dress, no matter how many gowns there are at this shop, but I have hope I'll get something close. If only... I shake my head at myself before I go down that path. When I was a child, the plan was that my mother, a talented seamstress, would make my dress for me. But that was before I realized depending on her was like wishing on a star. My mother takes free-spirited to the extreme, and the moment I left for college, she sold off everything that didn't fit in her car and set out to live wherever she felt like exploring.

  "Alisha and I picked out ten dresses for you, Jayden," calls out Chelsea as if we're in a competition. I smile as I pull out a beaded number to inspect more closely. It's not that my mom was a bad mother. I never went hungry or worried that she didn't love me. But Rosemary, the name she insisted I start calling her when I turned fourteen, was also one to drink more than the other moms. She laughed louder and wore more provocative clothing. Other mothers didn't hide the way they'd talk behind their hands about her, and they didn't invite my mother places, either.

  I sigh when I get to the middle and realize I only have three gowns, none of which I'm excited about. Juliet hands me two and says, "This is harder than I thought."

  "I know."

  Diana takes the dresses from me. "Honey, don't worry. You've got a dressing room full from your friends. And if you don't mind, I picked out a few I know will flatter your figure."

  My heart swells with happiness I didn't expect. "You did?"

  "My hands have touched every single gown in this place, and I've probably dressed a thousand brides by now. Chances are good you're going to like what I picked."

  I smile at her kindness, because somehow I think the motherly woman is right. "I’m sure I will. Thank you."

  Diana's eyes crinkle with the wrinkles of time as her lips turn up. "Your friends picked lovely dresses too. Now go try them on."

  A champagne cork pops as I walk to the sitting area outside the large room where I'll change. There are couches for my friends to relax on, and Alisha says, "Finally." She hands me a glass. "Let's drink, ladies. We've got a fashion show to watch."

  Bubbles dance on my tongue when I take a sip. "I'm afraid to see how many gowns are in there. Are we going to be here all day?"

  "Maybe," says Juliet. She plops down on a couch and leans back. "But I don't mind. I find this whole process fascinating."

  As a werewolf, Juliet didn't have a wedding, and I'd be sad for her except for the fact it's not something she ever dreamed about or wanted. I set my drink down and smile at my friends. "I'm going in."

  Juliet is the reason I don't have any reservations about marrying Alex and becoming a werewolf. During our college years, my friends and I never knew she was anything other than human, but the same weekend I met Alex, Juliet told us what she really was. That was when I discovered there's a whole underground world of shifters I never knew existed. When I fell for Alex and discovere
d we were true mates, I knew I could have the best of both worlds the way Juliet does.

  When I get in the dressing room, I stare at the wall full of dresses for a moment before I grab the first one on the right. Ugh, too white. It's practically glowing as if it's under a black light. The hanger rattles on another bar as I put it on the discard rack. I know Juliet still has reservations about me fitting into werewolf life easily, but that's because she doesn't know how much I crave the stability of unconditional love. Packs are very close, and it takes an extreme crime to be thrown out.

  Silk is smooth on my skin as I step into a heavy gown. I want to have children with a man who'll stick around no matter what happens, unlike my father, and nothing is more sure in life than a true mate. And I won't be like Rosemary, either. I plan to be a model mother. I'll bake cookies, do holiday crafts, and dress in ways that will make my kids proud of me.

  I gaze at myself in the mirror, and the A-line style makes me think Chelsea picked out the gown I have on. While it doesn't look bad on me, it's not what I want. I'm about to take it off when Alisha yells, "Don't you dare try to keep us from seeing every dress you try on! Get out here!"

  I push the door open. "You peeked under."

  "Maybe," Alisha says with a mischievous grin as Diana steps toward me to zip up the back.

  "Face it," says Juliet. "You're the star, so you might as well act like one."

  "Fine," I lift my chin and strut toward them like royalty. I even fake a British accent when I say, "Who's going to lift my goblet to my lips? I'm parched."

  Alisha chuckles. "That's the spirit." She turns to Chelsea. "I believe your lady in waiting will."

  Chelsea gets up to play along. "Maid of honor at your service, m'lady."

  I take my glass of champagne to sip before I give them a twirl to show off the dress. "What do you think?"

  Juliet and Alisha give me a thumbs down, while Chelsea says, "I like it."

  "Nope," I say and go back to the changing room for the next gown. Even though my friends are making this fun, and I do feel like a princess picking out the perfect dress, sadness fills me. Part of me wishes my mother were here with a glass of wine, making up stories for me about the prince who was going to whisk me away. She used to talk about true love and how one day we'd both find it.

  It's funny now that I think about it, because I believed pretty quickly that the fairy tale prince doesn't exist, even if my mother kept looking. I slither into a simple dress of shimmery silk, and it's light on my shoulders. I was the one who was wrong, because now I have a true mate, and it really was love at first sight for Alex and me.

  It takes a couple hours for me to try on all the dresses, and when I'm done, I'm still not satisfied. I take a sip of my now warm champagne and shake my head at my friends. They're all a little tipsy, even Juliet, who, as a werewolf, must have consumed quite a bit of alcohol considering their high tolerance level.

  "This is the one," Chelsea says in a voice louder than normal, and she strikes a pose in a long veil covered with elaborate flowers.

  Alisha giggles. "Sure, if you're marrying a bee." Her face is flushed from the champagne, and metal beads jingle on the veil she lifts up. "How about this one? He'll hear you coming— ha! Coming! Get it?"

  My friends crack up with laughter as I glance at Diana, who definitely heard.

  "Oh my god," I say. "I think it's time to go."

  "But you don't have your dress," says Juliet. "I told you we would stay until you're done."

  "Yeah. But I'm afraid I'll be pouring you all into the car if we do."

  "She's right," says Chelsea, who plops down hard on a couch. "We'll be good. I promise." She waves her hand at me. "Go try on the prospects again."

  I let out a sigh. "I can't, guys. I'm tired and done for today." The truth is I didn't fall in love with any of the gowns and only narrowed it down to a few that all had a small piece of what I want.

  Diana saves me and says to us, "This is normal. The first time trying on dresses is overwhelming. I suggest Jayden sleep on it, and you can all come back another time to make the final decision."

  "That's a great idea," says Chelsea. She pulls her phone out of her purse, and it thuds on the ground when she drops it, "Oops."

  She giggles as Juliet grabs her own cell. "I'll call Dean to come get us."

  Dean is Alex's best friend, and as best man, he offered to drive us to the bridal shop in the city an hour away from Smokey Falls so nobody would have to worry about being sober enough to get behind the wheel.

  I look at Diana. "Do I want to know how many bottles of champagne we went through?"

  "Not as many as some.” She touches my arm as she gives me a warm smile. “Usually it's the mothers who do the most damage."

  "Isn't that the truth." I laugh with her because I know firsthand the exact type of mother she's talking about, and once again I wish that Rosemary could have been like Diana.

  Two

  "Hey, Babe," calls Alex as he steps from the kitchen with a wooden spoon in his hand. "How did it go?" He holds out the spoon for me to taste his spaghetti sauce.

  I blink for a moment as I take in the most handsome man I've ever met. Alex stays in amazing shape as a firefighter, but it's more than the way he fills out his jeans and looks sexier than should be allowed in a cowboy hat. It's the way he makes my heart swell with love when he looks at me with his warm brown eyes. He makes me feel as if I'm all that will ever matter. I smile and bypass his spoon to kiss him. The moment our lips touch, the connection of our true mate attraction fills me, and the irritation of not finding a dress slips away. Everything disappears except Alex.

  "Whoa," he says as he breaks our kiss. "I almost spilled sauce on you." He winks. "But maybe I should have, because licking it off..." He pumps his eyebrows at me, making me grin.

  While I'm tempted to tug him into the bedroom, I refrain. Mostly because I'm hungry and we've ruined enough dinners not being able to wait, and we do have the rest of our lives together.

  I say, "It was fun, but I didn't pick my dress yet." I open my mouth to try his sauce. Rich tomato and beef flavor hit my tongue. "Mmm. So good," I say around my mouthful.

  "No dress?" He licks his lips. "That'll be interesting."

  I chuckle. "You have a one-track mind. But if you want to burn another dinner, I'm game."

  He grimaces. "Yeah. Okay. But…” He gives me an evil smile. “I’ve got ingredients for strawberry shortcake dessert. How about we skip everything except the whipped cream and have dessert on me?”

  I laugh as I follow him to the kitchen when he returns to stir his pot of sauce. "I narrowed it down, though," I say hopefully. "How was your day?"

  "Boring. We only got one call to rescue a cat, which Byron can never refuse." Alex grins at me with mischief in his eyes. "Nothing gets a cat to come down faster than the scent of a werewolf climbing up toward them. Cracks Byron up every time to coo, 'Here kitty, kitty' and watch it scramble away in fear."

  "That's kind of mean."

  "Not really. Most of the time the cat isn't really stuck up there, and it serves them right for worrying their poor owner enough to call us."

  I smile, because Byron is not a mean guy and would never maliciously hurt another living being, but he'll do just about anything for a laugh. Spaghetti noodles whoosh into a pot of water when Alex dumps them, and I go to the fridge to get out things to make a salad. Alex and I have only lived together for two months, but we move flawlessly in the kitchen as if we've been together for years. I'm used to cooking, and it's nice to be with someone who loves it as much as I do.

  "My parents want us for dinner tomorrow night," he says as he sets pasta bowls on the counter with a thud.

  "Okay. What do you want me to make?"

  "Everything?" Alex jokes. He's not a fan of his mother's cooking, which is probably why he's so good in the kitchen. And I have to admit, his mom does tend to overcook everything, which makes for a dry meal.

  "Stop." I chuckle and think about my
mom. "If it were my mother, you'd be stopping by to pick it up on the way."

  "Speaking of your mom..."

  I sigh. Alex has asked me more than once if I've told Rosemary yet about our engagement, and I think he's beginning to wonder if I'm afraid she won't approve of him. But that's not the problem at all. My mom would find Alex very attractive and very worthy. My hesitation is more about me keeping boundaries. She's a persuasive woman, and she'll try to weasel her way back into my life. A life she would never understand.

  Werewolves are not something regular people know about, and the secret is one I need to keep in order for the Smokey Falls pack to stay safe from vigilante groups and a secret government agency that would love to capture and study them. Juliet told me her pack in Winter Valley had a near miss a while back, and from what she said, I think the scientists involved in the incident were not out for the greater good of werewolves.

  But I missed my mother today, and I know it would break her heart if I got married without her. Not that I'd go that far to keep her at arm's length. I do need to call her. Fortunately, while I never know where she's living, she does keep the same number. I grab my phone out of my purse and look at Alex. "I'm going to call Rosemary right now."

  He smiles. "I'll hold dinner as long as you need."

  I find Mom in my contacts and hit Call, and then I take a deep breath as I walk out to the back deck and prepare myself for the energy of a woman who makes a tornado seem like a gentle breeze.

  "Jayden, as I live and breathe. I had an inkling you were going to call me today."