Erotic Paranormal Romance
Date Published: 9/17/2013
When Aspen Clarke saw Skylar Ashmore for the first time, her cougar screamed that this wolf would be hers. But Aspen can't trust the mating call because she knows all too well that sometimes fate can get it wrong. After a steamy night with Skylar, Aspen is broken-hearted to find that her worries are founded when she awakens alone and confused. So, she runs back to Pinewood Creek and her old pride that’d always made her feel welcome, unlike her own parents. Little does she know that she carries more with her than emotional baggage. Now faced with motherhood alone she's decided that she doesn't need a mate.
Skylar just wanted to forget his last assignment, so like he had for the past six months after he was forced to execute yet another shifter he stopped at the little restaurant a town over from his apartment to lose himself in good food. He never expected to lose himself in a female. He took the beautiful Aspen to bed the moment he caught her scent, his wolf beside itself wanting to claim its mate. But after it was over he knows he's made a mistake...because he's already mated. So, he runs and hopes he can beg his mate for forgiveness.
Xavier had never felt a betrayal as deep as when Skylar slid into bed beside him smelling of a female, not even when his old pack had nearly beat him to death. But soon that feeling of betrayal faded to confusion, then surprise when he realized that whatever female his mate had taken was also his mate.
Now Skylar and Xavier will hunt for their missing mate. But little do they know, Skylar's last assignment has a loose end that's just waiting for the right moment to strike--and it's set its sights on Aspen.
Can Aspen accept the man who left her pregnant and doubting mating all over again? Can Skylar and Xavier convince her to mate with not one, but both of them? Will Aspen survive to forgive?
Excerpt 1:
The
tantalizing mix of jasmine and forest made his mouth water, but he'd never
smelled it quite from the source, having never met Aspen in person before. He was totally
unprepared for the immediate connection he felt with her when her particular
scent reached him in the passenger seat of Sky's Tahoe. The subtle scent
of her sadness only enraged him and his wolf to the point he didn't know who he
was anymore. Before he could piece together his intentions, he'd ripped Aspen from the unknown
male's arms and punched him in the face. His wolf howled in satisfaction,
even as his human side gloried in the satisfying crunch of a broken nose he'd
dealt. No one touched his mate.
"Xavier!"
Someone
tackled him, taking him to the ground. His first instinct was to growl,
but familiar lips claimed his, familiar but rough hands pinned his arms above
his head and soothed his beast in the way that only Skylar knew how.
Xavier's wolf whined with need--not only of Sky, but of the tantalizing cat
whose scent still teased his nostrils.
"What
the hell is going on here?"
Skylar
relinquished his lips, but the firm grip on his arms, and the firm way Sky's
hips held him to the ground mixed with the stern look in Sky's eyes had Xavier
nodding, agreeing to an unasked question. Xavier went loose and pliant
underneath his mate.
Xavier
looked up at the bare-chested male with brown hair and golden-brown eyes who
stood in the middle of what Xavier could only describe as chaos. Xavier
looked to the porch and found Aspen ,
her face pale and tears tracking down her cheeks. She'd curled herself
into a ball, and even from this distance, he could see the terror in her grey
eyes. Xavier knocked Skylar to the side with ease and would've made it to
his mate had three men not tackled him.
"Calm
the fuck down, Xavier!"
"Get
your friend under control or I will take care of this!" The bare-chested
male stated.
Xavier
continued his struggle, his only goal to hold his Aspen who so obviously needed him. The
scent of her pain and sadness were torture to both him and his wolf, and his
wolf howled in protest.
"What's
going on?"
A petite
brunette sat on her knees, pulling Aspen 's head
into her lap, soothing Xavier somewhat, especially when Aspen clung to the unknown female.
Xavier stopped struggling, and worked at getting his wolf back under
control. He ignored those around him, listening to the petite brunette
speak to his Aspen .
"Aspen , sweetie, what's
wrong?"
"I...my
stomach hurts-"
"Oh
my god! Caleb we've got to get her to the hospital now!
Andrew!"
Xavier
found his voice, his wolf struggling against him to reassert control.
"What
is wrong with my mate?"
Xavier
felt Skylar release him to move toward Aspen
and the bare-chested male intercepted him, taking him to the ground.
Xavier's wolf howled and his control snapped. There was no way anyone
could watch two mates in trouble.
"I
don't see how anything gets done with you men! Stop this instant! Aspen needs help
now!"
Xavier's
wolf whined, but relinquished his control over Xavier as the petite brunette's
words reached his brain. She was right. They needed to stop
fighting and focus on Aspen .
He swallowed a growl when the male known as Andrew stepped onto the porch and
bent to look at Aspen .
"Andrew!
You're bleeding!"
"It's
alright, Sis. Just a broken nose, I'll be okay. Now, Aspen , tell me where do
you hurt?"
"In
my stomach."
"I'm
going to need you to point to it, okay. Great. Now, we're going to
load up and go to the emergency room. I'm sure it's nothing since I
didn't see you receive a blow, but better safe than sorry with your
condition. I'll call Dr. Sanchez on the way in. Okay."
Xavier
breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Aspen 's
face regain some color. He stepped cautiously towards her and when she
would've gotten up by herself, Xavier stopped her.
"Let
me carry you."
"Mine."
"Yes,
sweetheart, let me carry you."
"It's
up to you, sweetie."
Melinda's Review:
I received this book by the Author to give a truthful review.
This is the second book in the series. I have not read the first book and enjoyed meeting all the different characters. This book not only had the usual paranormal wolfs and cougars, but it had a mouse and platypus too. Got to love a platypus that is a nurse – and seamed to be a feisty one at that?
Skylar had just finished a job and was eating in the restaurant where Aspin worked. When Aspin approached she knew instantly that this was her mate. They left the restaurant and spent one steamy night together. Skylar woke up the next morning confused because he already had a mate how could he cheat on Xavier and want to claim Aspin as his mate too. Skylar returned home to Xavier who was not pleased when he smelt Aspin on Skylar, but was surprised to realize Aspin was also his mate. So they went on the search for Aspin.
When Aspin woke Skylar was gone. Upset and alone Aspin returned to her childhood pack. When Skylar and Xavier find Aspin she is in the arms of another man crying and they realize quickly she is pregnant. They are on a mission to win her over and make her their mate. However, she does have trust issues with the matting call and not sure how she could have two mates. They have ups and downs to overcome and Skylar’s past comes back to haunt them all.
I loved seeing all the characters interacting in this book. The passion and dominance control between Skylar and Xavier was great. I loved that neither one gave up the dominance easily to the other but when Aspin was involved it was all about her. Aspin truly completed them, she was their missing link. There was a ton of emotion in this book love, anger, sadness, and happiness. There were a few times I caught myself holding my breath waiting to see what was going to happen next, would things be ok for the 3 of them or not. I will say I am adding the first book to my TBR list I want to read about the alpha and his mouse.
Astrid Cielo
Astrid Cielo is a Mississippi girl who enjoys a variety of things. By night, she is a nurse in her local ER, and by day, she is spilling her imagination out on paper.
Astrid began writing when she was a child her stories featuring a variety of characters (including her imaginary friends). When she was in high school she wrote her first completed story and was published twice in poetry anthologies. Gathering her courage, Astrid self-published her first book, Surrender Serenity, Salin's Salvation, Book 1 and enjoyed every minute of it.
Now she balances her time between being a nurse (which she loves) and writing down the scenes that play out in her mind. She also plays World of Warcraft (which all of her friends think is weird)!
Website: http://www.astridcielo.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/astrid.cielo.9
Twitter: http://twitter.com/AstridCielo1
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