Bosun Read online

  As I approach the edge of the forest, a wolf steps out. His fur is silver with smudges of gray, but his eyes are what I’m drawn to. They’re the same pale blue as Bosun’s, and it makes me wish it were him.

  The wolf dips his head, and I reach out to touch his head. He leans toward me as if to indicate I can pet him. So I do. The fur is silky under my fingers, and I drop to my knees to use both hands. I had a dog when I was a child, and I recall how she was my source of comfort when life had me feeling down. I reach my arms around the wolf as it leans against me, and I lay my cheek on its back.

  I sit up and gaze into the wolf’s eyes. “You’re beautiful.” He nuzzles my hand, and I return to petting him as silent tears roll down my cheeks. The chill of night has arrived, making me shiver. Swiping my sleeve across my face, I stand. “I have no idea who you are, but thank you for this.”

  The wolf begins to pace in a circle, and I watch, fascinated by the movement. As I do, the animal form begins to morph into a man. When he’s done, I’m presented with a naked version of Bosun.

  “Oh my God. It’s you.”

  “I heard your call.” He steps forward and cups my face. “Devon, please don’t go.”

  I break away and whisper, “I’m so sorry. So sorry.”

  “No.” Pain flickers in his eyes. “I’ll go to Paris with you.

  I reach up to hold on to his forearms. “You’d leave the pack for me?”

  He nods. “Nothing matters without you. Nothing.”

  He’s right. Nothing does matter without Bosun. His hands are hot on my skin, and I melt in his touch. In that instant, I know I can’t ever leave Bosun Lindholm, and I was a fool to think otherwise. This is my true mate, and no matter where I go, my heart belongs with Bosun. I grab the back of his head and thread my fingers through his hair to pull him down for a kiss. “I was wrong to think I could live without you.”

  Bosun groans and scoops me up into his arms. “Then don’t.” He carries me across the street and up my stairs. I squirm to be released, so he sets me down. The doorknob is cold in my fingers when I reach down to turn it, and my mate grabs my hand when I start to lock it. He says, “You’re drunk.”

  I grin at him. “I’ve managed to get a wolf in my house, and I don’t intend to let him leave.” I push his hand away, and the deadbolt clicks as I lock the door anyway.

  He lets out a low growl. I kick off my shoes as I stalk toward him. He steps backward with a smirk on his face. “Seriously. I think you need to sober up before we do anything you’ll regret.”

  I shake my head and say, “I’ve done this sober. Don’t make me hunt you down.” I break my gaze as I pull my shirt over my head.

  “You’d never catch me. But as a wolf...” He raises his eyebrows at me, and the zipper of my jeans grinds down.

  “When you turn me into a werewolf, you’re going to be in so much trouble.” I stop walking to wiggle out of my jeans and panties.

  He licks his lips as he scans my body. “Nice ‘wear.” Bosun glances down the hall to my bedroom. “Got a drawer I can go through?”

  The satin of my bra is slippery on my arms as I let it fall to the floor. “Whatever for? Rumor has it you don’t wear any.” I let my gaze land on his erection and let out a small growl of my own as I move forward. When I get close enough, I jump into his arms and wrap my legs around his waist. “Let’s go have wild sex, and then you can explain to me how we seal our true-mate bond.”

  ***

  Six months later

  I glance across the red-and-white vinyl tablecloth at my best friend, Katie. Her plate is stacked high with potluck food, and she knows who made each dish. She winks at me as two older women join our table at the pack clubhouse. I figure out the reason why when one places her hand on my pregnant belly.

  When the older woman removes her hand, she says, “I hope you have my eggplant on your plate. You need the nutrients.” Monthly meetings for the pack include potluck dinner, and it’s a competition among the more established women to see who has the best recipes.

  Katie says, “Paula, do you really think I’d let that happen?”

  The gray-haired lady smiles at my friend. “Of course not. Brindle did find a good one.”

  The familiar voice of my mate sounds behind me. “Paula, how do you think I did?” Bosun leans down to plant a kiss on her cheek, and she flushes as she bats him away. He taunts her further. “Uh-oh. I think maybe you’d been pining for me all this time. I’m sorry if I broke your heart.”

  “Bosun Lindholm, stop.” She giggles, and I smile at my husband’s teasing.

  He places an overloaded plate next to mine and whispers in my ear, “She wants me.”

  I whisper back, “Don’t they all?”

  “It’s the howl. It always gets me my girl.”

  I place my hand on his cheek to kiss him. “Yes. It does.”

  *********

  Raven reconnects with more than a friend when she returns to Winter Valley for a high school reunion in Berch, coming soon....

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  V. Vaughn also has a complete bear shifter serial - Called by the Bear available in Kindle Unlimited.

  Called by the Bear Parts 1-3

  Called by the Bear Parts 4-6

  Called by the Bear Parts 7-9

  Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

  Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9

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  From V. Vaughn

  Winter Valley Wolves

  Brindle 6/18

  Bosun 6/25

  Berch 7/16

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  Grey Wolves Rising

  Temptation 6/8

  Obsession 6/23

  Salvation 7/14

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  Iron 6/17

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  Steel 7/28

  Eliza Gayle

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  Wild 6/19

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  V. Vaughn lives in New Hampshire and spends winter weekends in the woods of Maine. She might have seen a bear, or two....

  V. Vaughn also writes Sport Romance as Violet Vaughn. You can read more about her Ski Town Romance series here.