Sassy Ever After: Mate of Honor (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read online

  His brother clapped him on the shoulder. “Well, you’re a busy guy with a million things on your mind. But tonight, the only thing should be finding a mate.”

  “Did the folks pay you to say that?” Forrest looked at his brother. “You don’t mind. Dad stepping down, I mean?”

  Evan shrugged. “It doesn’t matter to me. You were always going to be the next alpha.”

  “But?”

  “No, buts. Just… you know. Watch your back. No one spoke up tonight because they are afraid of Dad, but I have feeling there might be a few who disagree with his decision to step down now. Some of the older wolves think you should have started your own pack, and the fact that you’re not mated doesn’t sit too well either.”

  Forrest stared at his brother. Evan had always seemed flighty. More interested in having his fun than in earning his place in the pack, but maybe… “You’re not dumb, are you?”

  “Whatever gave you that impression?” Evan smirked. “Lara’s going to kill me if we don’t get out there.”

  “I’m not going,” Forrest said.

  His father picked that moment to join them. He stared at his oldest son for a second, then said, “Walk with me.”

  ****

  Instead of going back to the party, Bailey made her way toward the bathroom. Holy cripes, she’d basically gone into heat the minute Forrest Blackthorn spoke to her, and mercy, she’d practically drooled down her chin staring at him.

  Distracted by thoughts of Forrest, she crashed into the tall blond from the dinner table.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked, his tone high with panic. “How did you find me?”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  He grabbed her by the arm. “I told you I’d contact you.”

  Bailey was more confused than ever. Voices down the hall had the man breaking contact. Before she could ask him who he thought she was, he was practically running away. Bailey ducked into the bathroom. What the heck had that been about? That guy gave her the total creeps. Why did he think she’d followed him, or tracked him, as he’d put it?

  She heard Forrest out in the hall at a distance, and her lady bits went all jelly.

  “What is wrong with you?” She stared at her reflection in the mirror and ran her fingers under her eyes to straighten her eyeliner. She was a successful lawyer. A respected attorney.

  “I’m smart, damn it. Smart women don’t play with fire.” But she didn’t feel smart.

  Her nipples stood rigid under her blouse, and even through the lace, they were obviously erect, and the heat that had rushed to her pussy had left her with wet panties. She felt like a lust-filled kit, unable to control her own body. Lord, she hoped she didn’t have to sit down anywhere before the ceremony because that would be a spot she didn’t want to have to explain.

  Forrest’s voice was louder now, and Bailey held her breath when she recognized the other voice was his father. She wasn’t trying to eavesdrop. If she could have magically poofed away, she would have, but disappearing wasn’t an option.

  “This feels like an ambush, father,” Forrest said.

  “Call it what you want, son. Your mother and I have never pressed you to mate, but you are forty now and the new alpha, and you need a mate to help you.”

  “Doesn’t love matter?”

  “If we waited for you to fall in love, we’d be dead before you married.”

  Bailey felt the slice of Burn’s words. Whatever kind of asshole Forrest might be, it had been a harsh comment. Especially coming from his dad.

  “You will take part in the scenting ceremony tonight, Forrest. And you will choose a mate.”

  Bailey’s gut clenched. Forrest was being forced to participate. To choose a suitable female. One that would make him stronger in the pack. And it bothered her.

  Why? He’s a jerk. He’s cold. Evan and Lara had both said more than once that Forrest preferred numbers and contracts to people. It’s no wonder he was forty-years-old and alone. So why did the thought of him taking a mate make her want to throw up?

  She could still smell him on the other side of the door, his masculine musk lingering in the hall. But it had been quiet for over a minute, so she peeked into the hallway to make sure the coast was clear.

  Forrest stood there, his face unreadable as he stared at her. Bailey slammed the door shut between them and put her back to it.

  A knock startled her.

  “The ceremony starts in five minutes,” he said. “Don’t be late.”

  Fuuu-dge knuckles. She washed her hands as if she could wash the silly fool off of her and opened the door again. Forrest was gone. She shook her head. “I am a silly fool.”

  Chapter Five

  The temperature had dropped at least ten degrees with the setting sun, and while it wasn’t cold at sixty-eight degrees, Bailey rubbed the goosebumps down on her forearms. She knew the raised bumps were less about the weather and more about the tall, dark, and brooding alpha who stood across the open yard from her with his arms crossed over his chest. His expression told Bailey that he wanted to be there as much as she did. Which meant, not at all.

  The dinner had been intimate with only twenty guests, but the scenting ceremony had brought out every single male and female in the pack, and many more wolves that Bailey had never seen.

  “Who are all these people?”

  The female to the left of her, a leggy brunette with the longest eyelashes, said, “With the Blackthorn alpha stepping down and his successor unmated females from the Rahound Pack, Golden Falls Pack, Wolfe Pack, and Silverback Pack have been invited to attend the scenting.”

  “And you are?”

  “Maxine. My father is the alpha of the Silverback Pack.” She cast a determined glance at Forrest. “He chose me at the scenting twenty years ago. He’ll choose me now.”

  Yeah, Bailey thought. He chose you, but he didn’t keep you.

  Answering the unasked question, Maxine added, “We were too young then. Forrest was still in college and wasn’t ready to settle down. But things are different now.”

  “Sure.” Bailey’s fox snarled inside her. She wanted to rip Maxine Silverback’s eyelashes out at the roots. What hope did she have against forty or more wolf bitches? Especially the females who could further pack interests. She berated herself for caring. She didn’t need to Blackthorns or their stupid pack. I am a human rights lawyer. I fight for the little guy. I am bad ass. I don’t need Forrest… Wait. Did she just think Forrest’s name? Not Evan’s? When she looked up to sneak a glance at Forrest, he was staring straight at her, his nostrils flaring as if angry.

  Tory stood next to Bailey on the right, bouncing on her tiptoes with excitement. “I won’t have to do anything I don’t want, right?”

  She’d been surprised when Lara had told her that Tory could participate in the scenting ritual since there had been more than one precedent for humans mating with wolves. Most of Tristan Wolfe’s sons had picked human females for wives. “Of course not, Tor. You’ll get sniffed by a guy in wolf form. If he likes what he smells, then he’ll turn human, and he’ll sniff you that way. You get to sniff him too.”

  “I’m not sure I want to smell any man’s ass.”

  Bailey giggled. “You can smell whatever part of him you want. And if you both agree, you’ll go out into the woods to take things further.”

  “For the mate mark, right?”

  “Slow your roll, Tor. You don’t want a mate mark. That’s permanent. You know. Marriage permanent.”

  “Oh.” She shook her head. “That would be fast. Too too fast. I just want a little fun.”

  “I think the fun is pretty much guaranteed.” Bailey laughed. “I’ve heard these guys are pretty take-charge when it comes to sex.”

  “You don’t know?”

  Bailey shrugged. “I’ve watched from the house, but I never actually attended or participated in a scenting ceremony. I was too young while I lived here, and since I haven’t been back until now, I’m as ne
w to this as you are.”

  “I guess we are in for a one of a kind experience tonight,” Tory said. She grinned. “Maybe we’ll get lucky.”

  Bailey shook her head. “Well, you might definitely be in for a wild night, woman. I’ve seen Luke and his buddy Landon scoping you out.”

  Her eyes widened. “How do I choose?”

  Bailey snickered. “Very carefully.”

  “Who do you have your eyes set on?”

  “The exit.”

  “That’s not a who.”

  Bailey shot her a look of mock surprise and put her hand to her chest. “But I really like him.”

  “What about the new hubba-delicious alpha? He’s been eyeballing you since we got outside.”

  “Because he’s working out a way to kill me, chop my corpse up into tiny pieces, and bury my parts all over the backwoods.”

  “You’re being dramatic again.”

  “He hates my guts, Tory.”

  Tory glanced at Forrest then back to Bailey. “That’s the horniest hate I’ve ever seen.”

  “Bull shit,” Bailey hissed. “And stop talking about him. I don’t want him to hear you.”

  Tory sighed. “You’re lousy at reading people, babe. I have no idea how you got to be such a good lawyer. I thought shifters were intuitive.”

  Burn Blackthorn began to speak, thankfully rescuing Bailey from the conversation. “May you find your mates,” he said. He took Lila’s hand, and all the other mated couples did the same. They turned their backs on the single males and females and walked back up to the house.

  “What now?” Tory asked.

  “Time to take off our clothes.”

  “Jesus,” she whispered. “Just like that.”

  “Yep, just like that.” If Bailey had Tory’s body, she would have torn her clothes off. But she was self-conscious around all these shifters who didn’t seem to possess an ounce of fat. Pack members were already turning into their wolves, the women holding in place while the men paced in front of them as if they were at a smorgasbord.

  “Why aren’t you shifting?” Tory asked.

  “I’m scared.” A large brown wolf, his front paw white, paced around Bailey. She gripped the fabric of her skirt and sucked in a breath when he nudged her from behind. “Son of a bitch.” She hadn’t been paying attention to the changes, and she had no idea who this wolf was, but his cold, wet nose up against her ass, was pretty insistent. “Fuck it,” Bailey said.

  Without undressing first, she concentrated on the change. It had been a while since she’d shifted into her fox, but it the transition from human to animal was like riding a bike. Once you learned, you never forgot. Within seconds, she was down on all fours and tangled in lace and flounce. Damn it! She hadn’t thought this through very well.

  White paw tugged at her clothes with his teeth, assisting her out of the mess of fabric. Her underwear and bra were easy to step out of. The Corsac Fox, which is also the last name her mother had adopted for them when they came to America, was the size of a medium dog. They were short, and their fur was fluffy beige. When Bailey managed to get to her paws, she stared at the wolf who seemed intent on her.

  His eyes were amber and bright. The brown of his fur was actually a mix of browns, blacks, and caramels. He was large, his chest span was at least two feet wide. He was a strong male. Bailey let her instinct override her habitual human responses, and she held still as the male wolf sniffed her from head to toe. When he finished, he allowed her to do the same. His scent was a combination of musk, sandalwood, and a pure wildness Bailey could almost taste. He exuded a masculinity she had never experienced up close.

  When she’d finished, she transformed back into her human form, as was the next step in the ceremony. The wolf stared at her naked body for a few second before he began his shift into a man. When he unfolded to his complete height, Bailey sucked in a breath.

  Forrest.

  He stood facing her, his naked body hard with muscles. Tattoos decorated his chest and thighs, tribal designs all denoting important milestones in his life. They flexed and danced as his skin rippled as if on the verge of changing back to beast. His blue eyes were rimmed with amber, even more of an indication that his animal was close to resurfacing. He stared at Bailey, his lips pressed firmly together in a grim expression. Then he took a step toward her.

  Bailey, instead of launching herself into his arms, took a step back. Forrest’s set expression faltered, a snarl replacing his frown. “Woman,” he growled.

  Her girly bits instantly warmed with heat and moisture. God, the grumpier he acted the wetter she got. Did she really want to be Forrest’s first conquest as alpha? She’d be the laughing stock of the Blackthorn Pack. Nothing would stop the gossip. She roped one arm across her chest and her free hand she placed over her bush. “Uh-uh.” She shook her head at Forrest.

  He took another step toward her. “I will have you, Bailey Corsac,” Forrest said, his voice coarse and gruff. “Make no mistake.”

  She gulped, her mouth suddenly dry as day old toast. She tried to speak, but she couldn’t form coherent words. Not with Forrest’s focused gaze staring at her like he planned to put fox on his dinner menu. She broke from looking at his eyes, and the situation worsened. His cock was jutted from his groin, thick and hard. Fucking hell, he was nearly as big as her forearm. If she let him put that in her, he’d split her in two.

  “I know you want me. I can smell your desire. It’s thick enough to choke the air.”

  She took another step back. “I don’t think…”

  “I’m going to fuck you stupid, then you won’t have to worry about thinking.”

  Holy shit! He did not just say that to her. She tried for indignant, but it was hard to take the high road when you reeked of lust. Bailey’s eyes widened as he took another step. She yelped as her aching need short-circuited her brain, and without a plan, she took off into the woods as fast as her bare feet could carry her.

  ****

  Forrest howled as Bailey Corsac ran toward the woods and changed into her animal. He’d never seen another one quite like her before. She was some kind of fox, but not the red or brown foxes that were native to the United States.

  As the heir to the Blackthorn Pack, shifter females threw themselves at him. As a powerful businessman, he hadn’t lacked for human companionship either. Which is why this little vixen intrigued him. She’d been sexy as fuck with her clothes on and with them off…well, Forrest couldn’t wait to catch her to show her just how much he wanted every single inch of her.

  Her desire was a powerful aphrodisiac, a scent he wanted to bathe in. He howled again and changed into his wolf form. He would hunt her down, and he would fuck her until she came screaming his name.

  Chapter Six

  Bailey’s heart hammered in her chest as panting replaced actual breathing. After a few miles, she’d finally slowed. Partly to drink from a small brook she’d crossed, but mostly, because, even in her fox form, she was sorely out of shape.

  The water tasted sweet and crisp, though she knew in her human form, the water was probably gross with bugs and dirt. It didn’t matter. She was hot and tired and completely freaked out. She’d outrun from Forrest Blackthorn.

  Who fucking did that?

  An idiot, she told herself, that’s who. If she wanted to keep from being the pack gossip, she shouldn’t have made such a spectacular ass of herself by running away. She could have simply told Forrest she wasn’t interested in him. She’d have been a complete liar on the epic scale of lying, but at least she would have her dignity. Now that she’d taken off, dignity was off the table.

  The woods on the Blackthorn property were full of oaks, pines, maples, and other tall trees that flourished over lush underbrush. Bailey could detect the scent of wolves, but it was hard to tell what was fresh and what lingered from days past. She tilted her narrow muzzle up and took in a long sniff on the air. A sharp aroma of fur and something floral had her opening her eyes about the time a large, furry wolf
tackled her to the ground.

  Bailey yelped as the wolf pinned her with large paws. This beast had brown, red, and black around its face, its chest was black, and its body was a mix of white, the browns, and the blacks. This was definitely not Forrest. Then the wolf peed on her.

  Bitch! Bailey screamed in her head, but it came out a strangled growl. This was a female wolf, and she was showing Bailey who was dominant. The wolf was bigger and stronger, but Bailey’s fox was wiry and quick. She wiggled herself away, her teeth connecting with the wolf leg as she got to her feet. She hunched her back, circling, as the female wolf growled a warning.

  Bailey knew two things at this moment. 1) She was going to get her ass seriously kicked. And 2) this bitch would not come out the fight smelling like a rose.

  Pine and sandalwood overrode her fighting senses, that, and a loud growl, followed by a lot of yipping and whining as a new, even bigger wolf arrived and chased the bitch off. Bailey recognized the white paw. Forrest had tracked her down.

  Quickly, she jumped into the stream. Not to get away this time, but to rinse the other female’s scent from her fur. The idea of Forrest seeing her as weak was unbearable.

  He transformed into a man again and watched her, his expression curious. “You’re not running,” he said. “Good.”

  Bailey, feeling like a wet rat as she trotted back onto land, shook out her fur. The water spray showered Forrest. The look of surprise made her laugh, which came out as a series of high-pitched squeals.

  Forrest raised a brow. “You think that’s funny, huh?”

  Maybe, she thought. Definitely.

  “Let me see you,” Forrest said. “I want to look at your body.”

  She knew he meant he wanted to see her in her human form. Sudden modesty gripped at her throat. She was comfortable in her skin for the most part, but she wasn’t sure how comfortable Forrest would be with extra-extra. The possibility he might reject her scared her.

  As if sensing her hesitation, Forrest said, “You’re beautiful, Bailey Corsac. I’ve never met anyone who makes me so fucking hard.”