Southern Shifters: Lone Wolf Wanted (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Jessie Lane Page B

Ezrah’s heart squeeze in an unfamiliar way that wasn’t altogether unpleasant. His wolf was content beyond belief just from being near the woman, and his human half had never felt so centered in his life. Suddenly, the years ahead looked promising, and he couldn’t wait to live them with his mate.
    Kinks went to step back in the cabin so he could come in, but Ezrah used his lightning fast reflexes to grab her around the back of the neck, hauling her body into his own. Taking her by surprise, Ezrah crashed his lips down on Chrissy’s, kissing her in a tender way he had never bothered to try with anyone else.
    The feeling of her soft lips moving against his own made his heart beat faster and a flood of sensations bombard him. This time, he wasn’t scared, though. He was going to bask in this new glow his mate was bestowing on him and ask for more. If it always felt this good, he wasn’t sure he would ever get enough of Chrissy.
    Breathless from their kiss, they pulled away to stare into each other’s eyes, silent for long seconds. He didn’t know what she thought about in that moment, but he was thinking she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
    His mate, being the feisty, little thing she was, wrinkled her nose and groaned, “Ew, I’m sticky now.”
    Since she was now covered in the very honey she had dumped all over him, Ezrah couldn’t help laughing. He had a feeling his mate was going to keep life very interesting.

Epilogue
     
    One year later …
     
    “Want me to hold the baby so you can eat, son?”
    Ezrah beamed at his mate’s mother and shook his head. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m not ready to let her go yet.”
    The older lynx shifter sighed yet smiled back. “You can’t hog my granddaughter forever, Ezrah.”
    He shifted on the patio chair, making sure his little girl’s head was supported as she snoozed away. “I won’t hog her all day. Just give me a few more minutes, and then I promise I’ll let you hold her.” He winked at Mrs. Leroy, causing her to blush.
    A soft tap on his shoulder made Ezrah look up and behind him. His mate stood there, giving him a look.
    “Stop flirting with my mother.”
    She might sound like all snarls, but he knew there was no real heat behind those words. His mate’s family liked to joke and play around all the time. It had taken Ezrah a while to get used to it, but now he wouldn’t change his new family for anything. He loved them unconditionally, and they loved him in return.
    “Can’t help it, baby. I’m surrounded by beautiful women.” He gave Kinks a big smile that she returned playfully.
    She ran a hand lovingly over his hair. “Well, when you put it that way …” Leaning down, she kissed him lightly on the lips before walking back into her parents’ house. Mrs. Leroy had walked back in the house before Kinks, so now it was just him and his daughter sitting on the back deck, enjoying the pristine nature around them.
    Looking down at his little girl, he traced one of his roughened fingers over her plump, little cheek and thought about the last year.
    Kinks had let him stay in Deals Gap so they could get to know each other. Most shifters would jump into their mating feet first, but she had seemed to understand that Ezrah needed to take things at a slower pace. As a result, he had dated his mate, wooing her slowly, falling in love with her quickly. He had even made himself wait for Kinks to tell him she was pregnant, which happened on their third date.
    Could he have told her Bhric had let it slip the day he had returned? Yeah, but it had been more important to him that Kinks knew he was there because he wanted to be with her, not because he knew she was pregnant with his child.
    It was his sole priority to prove that he cared for Kinks as much as he cared about his child. Even though he was unused to showing affection, he had somehow accomplished the impossible and proven to his mate that he loved her. He had also told her the truth